Residents in Delhi continued to face intense summer heat as the maximum temperature touched 42.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, around three degrees above normal. While this marked a slight dip from Saturday’s 42.8°C, the weather remained uncomfortable across the city. According to the India Meteorological Department, the highest temperature recorded in the city was 43.5°C at the Ridge station. On Saturday, Delhi had experienced its first widespread heatwave day of the season, with temperatures reaching as high as 44.5°C in some areas.

Even though Sunday did not officially qualify as a heatwave day, the conditions remained harsh, especially during peak afternoon hours. The minimum temperature also stayed high at 26.2°C, adding to the discomfort.

The IMD has issued a “yellow alert” for Monday, warning of isolated heatwave conditions in parts of the city. However, there is some relief in sight, with forecasts predicting scattered drizzle or light rain later in the day.

Relief is expected to improve from Tuesday onwards, with rain and strong winds likely to bring temperatures below 40°C. Cloudy skies may continue through midweek, with temperatures potentially dropping to around 37°C by Thursday.

“In Delhi, maximum temperatures were observed in the range of 42-44°C on Sunday, yet no heatwave conditions have been observed due to a slight fall of 1°C in the maximum temperature and close to a 1°C rise in the normal temperature,” said IMD scientist Krishna Mishra.

“Normal temperatures change after every five-day interval … Normal temperature for Safdarjung for the period April 26-30 is 39°C, while it was 37.7°C for the period April 21-25,” Mishra added.

What Heatwave Conditions Mean And Current Air Quality

The IMD defines a heatwave when the maximum temperature is at least 4.5°C above normal and crosses 40°C, or when it touches 45°C or more. While several stations met this condition on Saturday, none did on Sunday due to the slight drop in temperature.

Apart from the heat, air quality also remained a concern. Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 222 on Sunday, which falls in the “poor” category, though slightly better than Saturday’s reading of 243.

With heat and pollution continuing to affect daily life, residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid peak sun hours, and monitor weather updates as conditions are expected to change in the coming days.

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