Temperature Records Broken in Delhi

Temperature Records Broken in Delhi

What does the recent spike in temperature in Delhi signify? On March 7, 2026, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7°C, the highest in the first week of March in the past 50 years.

This new record surpasses the previous high of 34.8°C logged on March 5, 1999. The temperature on this day was notably 7 degrees Celsius above the normal range for early March.

Additionally, the minimum temperature settled at 17.4°C, which is 3 notches above normal. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) noted, “This was the earliest instance of the temperature surpassing 35 degrees Celsius in the first week of March in at least 15 years.”

Looking ahead, the day temperature is predicted to rise further, potentially reaching around 37 degrees Celsius by March 11, 2026. IMD’s senior scientist, RK Jenamani, stated, “The day temperature is expected to show a gradual increase,” indicating a continuing trend of rising temperatures.

On the same day, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 246, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, a significant drop from the previous day’s AQI of 172, which was classified as ‘moderate’.

This temperature rise is not isolated to Delhi; many parts of North India experienced maximum temperatures rising 8 to 12°C above normal during the first week of March 2026.

Experts have warned that a rise in maximum temperatures by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius is expected during the next 24 hours, as Delhi has been largely experiencing dry weather since the last intense rainfall on January 28.

As the situation develops, the implications of these rising temperatures on health, agriculture, and the environment remain to be fully understood. Details remain unconfirmed.