Delhi braces for heatwave as mercury may touch 44°Celsius

NEW DELHI: Brace for intense heat as India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heatwave from Tuesday to Friday. The mercury is expected to touch 44 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Friday.According to IMD, the maximum temperature was 39.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, on Monday. The day temperature is expected to stay between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, and is likely to remain 42-44 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Friday.Met officials said that due to the consistent hot northwesterly winds and maximum hours of sunshine, the city is likely to record heatwave conditions. IMD considers a heatwave day when the maximum is 4.5 degrees or more above normal temperature and the maximum is at least 40 degrees Celsius. A heatwave is also considered if the maximum temperature touches 45 degrees Celsius or above.Though no heatwave day was seen this April, three such days were recorded in the second week of April 2025. No heatwave day was observed in April in 2024 and 2023, but the city saw the most intense spell in April 2022 at 11. This season, the city recorded the highest maximum temperature at 41 degrees Celsius on March 17.The minimum temperature settled at 22.8 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, and may reach 25 degrees by April 25.Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality improved from poor on Sunday to moderate on Monday, with AQI at 181. However, it is likely to turn poor again on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.