Delhi sets a new record this summer: Hottest June night in over 50 years

the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this was eight degrees above normal. The previous highest minimum temperature recorded between 1969 and 2024 in June was 34.7 degrees Celsius on June 3, 2010.

All other weather stations in Delhi also registered minimum temperatures of at least 30 degrees Celsius — 34.6 degrees Celsius in Aya Nagar, 34.4 degrees Celsius in Palam, 33.8 degrees Celsius in Lodhi Road, and 30.9 degrees Celsius in Ridge.

IMD officials said that records before 1969 have not been analysed yet and there is no clarity whether the temperature recorded early on Tuesday is the highest ever for Delhi.

A persistent light cloud cover, alongside the absence of significant rain, is behind the increase in minimum temperatures as heat is getting trapped near the surface.

Delhi has been experiencing unusually high temperatures, resulting in heatwave conditions for over a month now. In May, the 80-year-old record for the highest day temperature

was broken when Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature in the city has not dropped below the 40-degree mark for 38 days straight.

On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 43.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal. The relative humidity peaked at 47%. Palam and Aya nagar were hotter, recording maximum temperatures of 44.7 and 44.5 degrees Celsius.

As per the IMD, high minimum temperatures significantly impact people. “If the minimum temperatures at night are warmer than normal, then they also give a cascading effect on the next day’s maximum temperatures. The maximum temperatures may be attained earlier the following day and may also last for a longer duration. When the high daytime and nighttime temperatures are seen together, they tend to increase heat stress on the human body (and it) finds it difficult to recover from the heat of the day during night hours,” stated the IMD.

Rains in Himachal Pradesh, meanwhile, are expected to have a slight cooling effect in the plains, with the maximum temperature in Delhi set to be around 42 degrees Celsius, and the minimum 33 degrees on Thursday.