First in 15 years: Temperature crosses 35°C in March’s first week; what’s behind the rise in mercury?

NEW DELHI: The mercury rose to 35.7 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above normal, on Saturday. This was the earliest instance of the temperature surpassing 35 degrees Celsius in the first week of March in at least 15 years, IMD data showed. It was 34.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The day temperature is predicted to show a gradual rise and may further touch 37 degrees Celsius by March 11.

Last year, the mercury crossed the 35-degree mark in the second week of March at 36.2 degrees Celsius on March 14. In 2024, this happened only in the last week of March, while in 2023, the temperature remained below 35 degrees Celsius throughout March. In 2022, this mark was breached in the third week of the month.


“In March 2021, the day temperature surpassed 35 degrees Celsius on March 11. This time, it crossed four days earlier,” said RK Jenamani, senior scientist, IMD.

Clear skies and no active western disturbance lead to rise in mercury

Continuous clear skies have pushed the temperatures. Delhi has been largely experiencing dry weather since the last intense rainfall on Jan 28. Feb brought only two spells of very light showers. With no active western disturbance influencing the region, the city consistently has been recording clear skies, contributing to the rise in mercury.

“The day temperature is expected to show a gradual increase. However, a western disturbance would impact the region from March 9 and it may cause rain activity only in hills. Though no rain is expected in the plains, the wind direction may change to easterly on March 10, which may cause a dip in the mercury by one to two degrees in Delhi,” said Jenamani.

IMD predicted that the mercury is likely to hover between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius from Sunday to Tuesday. It is predicted to rise to around 37 degrees Celsius by Wednesday. “A rise in maximum temperatures by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius is expected during the next 24 hours and no large change is predicted during the subsequent three days. However, it may rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius on March 11 and fall by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius thereafter. The maximum temperatures are likely to be markedly above normal (5.1 degrees Celsius or more) during the next seven days,” said IMD in its bulletin.

Apart from days, the nights continue to record temperatures above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 17.4 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. It may touch 19 degrees Celsius by March 11.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality worsened to the poor category with an AQI of 246. It was 172 in the ‘moderate’ range the previous day. It is likely to dip to the moderate category on Sunday and Monday and may again deteriorate to poor on Tuesday, according to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !