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At 40 degrees, Delhi sees hottest day of 2025; IMD predicts heatwave across north India
Delhi weather today: The IMD predicted nearly double the number of heatwave days across northwest India this year.
Delhi sweltered on March 26, the hottest day of 2025, when the temperature soared to a scorching 40.5 degree Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
On Wednesday, the observatory at Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degree Celsius, which is 6.3 notches above normal. It beat the previous highest of the year - 37.1 degree Celsius, recorded on Tuesday.
The highest temperature for the month in 2024 was recorded on March 29 at 37.8 degree Celsius, and the year before that, the hottest day of the month was March 15, recording a maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius, the IMD data showed.
Also Read | The 40°C threshold is hit earlier and lasts longer
According to the data from the IMD, the last time Delhi experienced such a high temperature in March was back in 2022, when it peaked at 39.1 degree Celsius on March 29.
Also Read | Delhi’s AQI remains ‘poor’ as maximum temp likely to hover between 38-40°C
Humidity levels fluctuated between 19 per cent and 52 per cent during the day. The minimum temperature had settled at 17.7 degree Celsius, the IMD reported.
Heatwave warning across northern India
The weather department has predicted nearly double the number of heatwave days across Northwest India in the summer season.
Typically, the region records five to six heatwave days in a season, but this year, it is likely to experience 10 to 12 days.
Also Read | Mercury breaches 40°C mark first time this season; Prayagraj hottest in UP
"We are expecting slightly above normal heatwave conditions, especially over West and Central India. Generally, Northwest India sees around 5 to 6 heatwave days. This year, we expect 10 to 12 days, which is double the normal," IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy said while clarifying that this is a seasonal prediction and does not mean that all the days of the season will be above normal.
However, the IMD official did not comment on whether this year will be warmer than 2024, which was India's hottest year on record. Last year, the country experienced 554 heatwave days.
(With ANI inputs)
