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Residents across Delhi and the National Capital Region are likely to face severe heat conditions over the coming days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that temperatures could rise to 44-45 degrees Celsius amid an ongoing heatwave across northwest India.
The IMD has issued a yellow heatwave alert for Tuesday, cautioning people about rising heat stress, intense daytime temperatures and hot dry winds expected to persist through the week.
The warning follows Delhi’s hottest day of the season on Monday, when Safdarjung, considered the city’s base weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.4°C, nearly 3 degrees above normal levels.
Several other parts of the capital also experienced extreme heat, with Ridge recording 44.6°C and Ayanagar reaching 44.4°C.
According to forecasts, temperatures are expected to remain between 43°C and 45°C on Tuesday and Wednesday before marginally easing later in the week to around 42°C-44°C. Strong surface winds with speeds of up to 35-40 km/h are also likely during daytime hours.
Weather experts attributed the prolonged heat spell to the absence of active western disturbances and a lack of pre-monsoon rainfall activity across north India.
India’s annual monsoon season is likely to make its entry over Kerala around May 26, according to the India Meteorological Department, signalling the possible start of the country’s crucial rainy season.
The weather agency said the onset date carries a margin of four days on either side, meaning the southwest monsoon could arrive slightly ahead of schedule or face a brief delay depending on evolving weather patterns.
The arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is considered the formal beginning of the rainy season in India and remains a key indicator for the agricultural sector, reservoir levels and relief from intense summer temperatures across several regions.
With the yellow alert in place, many residents have been seeking clarity on how the IMD classifies heatwave conditions.
According to the weather department, a heatwave is declared when temperatures in the plains reach at least 40 degrees Celsius and remain 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal. It may also be declared if temperatures touch 45 degrees Celsius or above regardless of normal deviation.
A severe heatwave is declared when temperatures exceed normal levels by 6.5 degrees Celsius or more. For official classification, such conditions generally need to continue across at least two weather stations within a meteorological subdivision for two consecutive days.
The yellow alert advises residents to remain cautious and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours.
Delhi’s air quality has also shown signs of deterioration amid the soaring temperatures. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the city’s AQI in the ‘moderate’ category at around 173-174, with forecasts indicating it could slip into the ‘poor’ category later this week.
Experts warned that the combination of pollution and extreme heat could worsen respiratory illnesses and heat-related health complications, particularly among children, elderly people and those with existing medical conditions.
The heatwave has also increased electricity consumption across the capital. Delhi’s peak power demand touched 7,542 MW on Monday, marking the highest level recorded so far this summer due to growing use of cooling appliances. Officials estimate demand could exceed 9,000 MW later in the season if temperatures continue to rise.
Long-range forecasts currently suggest that Delhi is expected to remain largely hot and dry over the next 15 days, with no immediate indication of widespread rainfall that could bring substantial relief from the ongoing heatwave.
The IMD has issued a yellow heatwave alert for Tuesday, cautioning people about rising heat stress, intense daytime temperatures and hot dry winds expected to persist through the week.
Delhi records hottest day of the season
The warning follows Delhi’s hottest day of the season on Monday, when Safdarjung, considered the city’s base weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.4°C, nearly 3 degrees above normal levels.
Several other parts of the capital also experienced extreme heat, with Ridge recording 44.6°C and Ayanagar reaching 44.4°C.
According to forecasts, temperatures are expected to remain between 43°C and 45°C on Tuesday and Wednesday before marginally easing later in the week to around 42°C-44°C. Strong surface winds with speeds of up to 35-40 km/h are also likely during daytime hours.
Weather experts attributed the prolonged heat spell to the absence of active western disturbances and a lack of pre-monsoon rainfall activity across north India.
IMD predicts early monsoon
India’s annual monsoon season is likely to make its entry over Kerala around May 26, according to the India Meteorological Department, signalling the possible start of the country’s crucial rainy season.
The weather agency said the onset date carries a margin of four days on either side, meaning the southwest monsoon could arrive slightly ahead of schedule or face a brief delay depending on evolving weather patterns.
The arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is considered the formal beginning of the rainy season in India and remains a key indicator for the agricultural sector, reservoir levels and relief from intense summer temperatures across several regions.
IMD explains heatwave criteria
With the yellow alert in place, many residents have been seeking clarity on how the IMD classifies heatwave conditions.
According to the weather department, a heatwave is declared when temperatures in the plains reach at least 40 degrees Celsius and remain 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal. It may also be declared if temperatures touch 45 degrees Celsius or above regardless of normal deviation.
A severe heatwave is declared when temperatures exceed normal levels by 6.5 degrees Celsius or more. For official classification, such conditions generally need to continue across at least two weather stations within a meteorological subdivision for two consecutive days.
The yellow alert advises residents to remain cautious and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours.
Air quality likely to worsen
Delhi’s air quality has also shown signs of deterioration amid the soaring temperatures. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the city’s AQI in the ‘moderate’ category at around 173-174, with forecasts indicating it could slip into the ‘poor’ category later this week.
Experts warned that the combination of pollution and extreme heat could worsen respiratory illnesses and heat-related health complications, particularly among children, elderly people and those with existing medical conditions.
The heatwave has also increased electricity consumption across the capital. Delhi’s peak power demand touched 7,542 MW on Monday, marking the highest level recorded so far this summer due to growing use of cooling appliances. Officials estimate demand could exceed 9,000 MW later in the season if temperatures continue to rise.
Long-range forecasts currently suggest that Delhi is expected to remain largely hot and dry over the next 15 days, with no immediate indication of widespread rainfall that could bring substantial relief from the ongoing heatwave.
