New Delhi: If you are living in Delhi NCR, you would have probably noticed it’s been unusually warm for this time of year. On Monday morning, the city recorded a low of 28.2°C, which is about five degrees higher than the normal. Not just this, it was also the hottest September morning Delhi has seen in six years.
Sunday wasn’t much different, with the same warm low temperature continuing overnight. Usually, September nights start to get pleasant, but this year, the warm days have not left yet. The last time we saw a hotter September morning was back in 2019, when the temperature hit 29.6°C.
It’s not just the mornings — the days have been hot too. On Sunday, the mercury climbed to 38.1°C, which is about three degrees above the usual high for September. That made it the hottest September day in two years.
What’s causing the heat?
Even though northwest India actually got more rain than usual this September (42% above normal!), the Southwest monsoon left Delhi early — on September 24. This was the earliest withdrawal since 2002. And ever since the monsoon left, the temperatures have soared again.
Two main factors that are making it feel so hot are: clear skies during the day, and high humidity traps that heat at night. Humidity has been hanging around between 56% and 76%, making the air feel warmer and heavier. Easterly winds are also bringing moist air making the nights warmer.
However, these easterly winds have benefited Delhi’s air quality. They’ve kept smoke from the northern stubble burning (farm fires) from entering the city. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, there have been 130 stubble-burning fires so far this season — mostly in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and a few in Rajasthan. These fires started around mid-September but haven’t really worsened Delhi’s air quality yet.
Are cooler days on the way?
The India Meteorological Department predicts some relief soon. Monday is expected to be partly cloudy, with chances of light rain or drizzle on Tuesday and Wednesday. The clouds should stick around until about October 5th, which will help cool things down. Temperatures may dip to lows around 23°C and highs near 32°C.
By Sunday afternoon, the city’s Air Quality Index was 139, which is considered “moderate.” That’s an improvement from Saturday, when it hit 169 — the highest since June. As per the meteorologists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the air quality should stay moderate through the week.