Parts of Delhi recorded their first ‘warm night’ of the season as the minimum temperature remained above 30 degrees Celsius, with Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, recording 31.9 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, making it the warmest May night in 14 years, even as the sweltering heat was expected to continue. Thursday is expected to witness an isolated intense heatwave, with the maximum temperature likely to range between 45-47 degrees Celsius.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions in the city until at least May 27. “Some parts of Delhi recorded warm night conditions on Thursday,” an India Meteorological Department official said.
The IMD classifies a “warm night” when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius in the plains and exceeds 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal. A “heatwave” is when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C, with 4.5°C or more above normal.
A maximum temperature of more than 45°C in the plains is also considered a ‘heat wave’. An “extreme heatwave” is when the maximum exceeds 40°C, and the departure is 6.5°C or more above normal.
There have been three consecutive days of “heat wave” conditions in the city. On Wednesday, Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius, i.e. 4.1 degrees above normal, and a minimum of 28.3 degrees Celsius, i.e. two degrees above normal. Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi was the hottest location on Wednesday with the temperature rising to 46.3 degrees Celsius.
Safdarjung recorded the season’s highest temperature of 45.1°C on Tuesday, with North Delhi’s Ridge (46.5°C) being the hottest location.
Isolated heatwave conditions were recorded in Delhi-Haryana-Chandigarh sub-division on Monday. Wednesday was the third day in a row that “heat wave” conditions were recorded in the region.
The National Capital Region of Delhi continued to record high temperatures, similar to large parts of northwest and central India, with clear skies and dry westerly winds persisting, an IMD official said on Wednesday. “Any major change in weather conditions is unlikely, at least until the weekend, meaning heatwave conditions should persist in the city.”
No heatwave days were recorded in May 2025, with the highest maximum temperature reaching 42.3°C. In 2024, Delhi recorded six consecutive days of heatwaves with a maximum peak of 46.8°C on 30 May. On the same day, the maximum temperature in places like Narela and Munjishpur crossed 49 degrees Celsius.
In 2023, Delhi recorded no heatwave days, with the highest maximum temperature at 43.7°C. IMD data showed that two such days were recorded in 2022, with the highest maximum temperature reaching 45.6 degrees Celsius.
Delhi’s air quality remained “fair”, with the AQI standing at 160 at 10am on Thursday, down from 168 at 4pm on Wednesday.
