New Delhi is likely to see a sharp rise in temperatures this week, with the mercury expected to touch 40°C by Wednesday and climb further to around 41°C by Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has cautioned about possible heatwave-like conditions.
The increase follows a brief spell of rainfall earlier in the week, after which temperatures have steadily risen. On Saturday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7°C, about 1.4 degrees below the seasonal average, but the warming trend is expected to intensify in the coming days.
The IMD has projected that maximum temperatures may rise by 6–7 degrees over the next week, transitioning from below-normal levels to above-normal conditions. Night-time temperatures are also set to increase, with minimum temperatures expected to climb from the current 18.6°C to around 23–25°C by Thursday.
Meteorologists attribute the rising heat to clear skies and the absence of any active weather systems, with no rainfall likely in the near future. The lack of cloud cover combined with prolonged sunshine is expected to accelerate the warming.
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Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather said dry winds and uninterrupted solar radiation will play a key role in pushing temperatures higher. He noted that as the cooling influence of north-westerly winds diminishes, dry conditions will prevail, leading to a steady rise in daytime temperatures.
Meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya also highlighted a wider regional pattern, warning that large parts of north and central India could experience temperatures ranging from 42°C to 45°C by the middle to latter half of next week. He added that Delhi and Haryana may record their first 40°C reading of the season around April 17 or 18, with heat wave conditions likely in parts of central and peninsular India.
Earlier this month, Delhi had recorded a decade-low April maximum of 28.2°C, but temperatures have since risen rapidly, signalling an early transition to peak summer conditions.
Air quality, which remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday, is also expected to worsen, fluctuating between moderate and poor levels as higher temperatures and shifting wind patterns affect pollution dispersion.
With no immediate relief in sight, residents of the national capital are likely to experience increasingly hot and dry conditions in the days ahead, marking the early onset of intense summer weather.
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