Delhi’ss maximum temperature reached 41.3°C, while warm nights continued with the minimum settling at 30.8°C, both above normal for this time of year.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI: Delhi sweltered under intense heat and humidity on Saturday as the city’s heat index, or “feels-like” temperature, soared to a season-high 51.3 degrees Celsius at 2.30 pm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The previous highest heat index this season was 48.2 degrees Celsius, recorded on June 10 and May 28.
The actual maximum temperature settled at 41.3 degrees Celsius, four notches above the seasonal average, only slightly lower than Friday’s 41.5 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity stood at 45% in the afternoon, making outdoor conditions significantly more uncomfortable.
“The high humidity levels caused the feels-like temperature to cross the 50-degree mark,” an IMD official said. The weather department has forecast maximum temperatures between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius over the next two days.
Nights have also turned unusually warm, with the minimum temperature recorded at 30.8 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. It marked a sharp rise from Friday’s 28.7 degrees Celsius and was the highest minimum temperature since June 11, when the mercury touched 30 degrees Celsius. IMD expects night temperatures to remain between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius over the next three days.
Relief, however, may be on the horizon. The weather department has predicted spells of light rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds of up to 50 kmph during the coming week. A yellow alert has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday, warning of rain and thunderstorms.
Worst days of the year from heat index perspective in Delhi NCR and northern plains.
Most stations in Delhi NCR are reporting a heat index b/w 46 to 49°c depending on humidity levels across at 12:30pm this noon.
No major relief expected from sultry weather throughout weekend… pic.twitter.com/yGzH7AvCpP— Weatherman Navdeep Dahiya (@navdeepdahiya55) June 27, 2026
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Meanwhile, Delhi continues to wait for the southwest monsoon, having already missed its normal onset date of June 27. IMD has not yet announced a revised arrival date but said conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance further into parts of north India, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next three to four days.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the “moderate” category on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 130.
The soaring heat index reflects the combined impact of high temperatures and elevated humidity, making conditions feel significantly hotter than the actual air temperature. Health experts advise people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during peak afternoon hours, wear light, breathable clothing, and limit strenuous outdoor activities, as the oppressive weather increases the risk of heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
