New Delhi : The national capital endured its warmest May night in almost 14 years as the minimum temperature climbed to 32.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, significantly above the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This marked the highest nighttime temperature for the month since May 26, 2012, when the mercury had settled at 32.5 degrees Celsius. The latest reading was 5.7 degrees above normal, highlighting the intense overnight heat gripping the city. Earlier in the month, on May 21, the minimum temperature had already reached 31.9 degrees Celsius, indicating a pattern of unusually warm nights.
IMD data from various observatories further illustrated the widespread warmth. Palam recorded 30.5 degrees Celsius (3.4 degrees above normal), Lodi Road 30 degrees Celsius (5 degrees above normal), Ridge 30.6 degrees Celsius (4.4 degrees above normal), and Ayanagar 32 degrees Celsius (5.3 degrees above normal). The meteorological agency confirmed warm night conditions at Safdarjung, Lodi Road, and Ayanagar observatories.
According to IMD criteria, a warm night is declared when the maximum temperature reaches or exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature departure ranges between 4.5 and 6.4 degrees above normal.
The weather agency has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions on Monday, forecasting a maximum temperature around 44 degrees Celsius. This comes after the city experienced mild dust storms on Sunday evening, which contributed to a decline in air quality. As of 9 am on Monday, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 206, falling in the ‘poor’ category, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
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The CPCB classifies AQI levels as follows: 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
This latest development underscores the challenging summer conditions in Delhi, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures remaining elevated. The combination of high minimum temperatures and heatwave alerts continues to affect daily life in the capital, as residents navigate the oppressive heat.