Delhi Records Warmest June Night in Two Years as Feels-Like Temperature Hits 50.7C
Delhi residents faced extreme 24-hour heat stress on Sunday as "feels-like" temperatures soared above 50 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung and Lodhi Road weather stations, marking a severe heatwave coupled with the warmest June night in two years.
The intense weather has prompted a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms over the next two days, which may bring much-needed relief to the capital.
The extreme conditions exposed residents to potentially lethal levels of heat stress during both the day and night. At the Safdarjung base station, the maximum temperature reached 41.8 degrees Celsius, which is 4.6 notches above normal, up from 41.3 degrees Celsius recorded the previous day. This marked the first official heatwave day at Safdarjung in 40 days and only the third of this summer season.
Other parts of Delhi experienced even hotter conditions, with the Lodhi Road weather station recording a maximum temperature of 42.1 degrees Celsius.
High humidity levels, ranging between 37 percent and 70 percent, compounded the daytime heat. This moisture pushed the heat index, or "feels-like" temperature, to a stifling 50.7 degrees Celsius at 5:30 PM on Sunday. This was just slightly below the 51.3 degrees Celsius feels-like temperature recorded at 2:30 PM on Saturday.
Medical risks increased significantly due to the humidity. Prolonged exposure to these extreme heat index levels significantly increases the risk of severe heat exhaustion and other potentially life-threatening conditions for residents.
Nighttime offered little respite for Delhiites. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, which is three notches above the seasonal normal. This was recorded as the highest minimum temperature for the month of June since June 19, 2024, when the night temperature touched 35.2 degrees Celsius.
