Delhi sweltered under extreme discomfort on Thursday as a deadly combination of high humidity and moderate heat pushed the “real feel” temperature close to 49°C, even though the actual maximum temperature was recorded at 36.9°C one degree below normal.
At 2:30 pm, the “real feel” soared to 48.9°C, while the wet-bulb temperature a crucial measure of heat stress on the human body hit 29.57°C by evening. For context, a wet-bulb reading above 32°C severely hampers the body’s ability to cool itself, and 35°C is considered a critical survival limit.
Sweltering Day Despite Monsoon Onset
Although the southwest monsoon officially arrived in Delhi on June 29, bringing 14 mm of rain on the first day, it has since fizzled. From July 1 to 3, only 3.8 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, compared to the normal monthly average of 209.7 mm.
IMD says the culprit is the monsoon trough, which moved away from Delhi and is currently passing through Bikaner, Sheopur, Khajuraho, Daltonganj, and Digha. Light to moderate showers are expected to return from Saturday, with a yellow alert in place.
Relief Expected Over Weekend
Private meteorologists also forecast marginal improvement. Mahesh Palawat of Skymet said rain activity is likely to pick up from July 6, as the trough may shift northwards. X weather tracker IndiaMetSky predicted scattered rainfall across Delhi-NCR between July 5–9, with possible intense showers in isolated parts.
Friday will likely mirror Thursday, with minimum temperatures between 26–28°C. A slight dip of 1–2°C is expected by Saturday.
Air Quality Stays in ‘Satisfactory’ Zone
Despite the oppressive heat, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ range for the eighth straight day. The average AQI dropped to 72 from 83 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Air Quality Early Warning System under the Ministry of Earth Sciences predicts satisfactory conditions to persist till July 6.
While rain may soon return, Thursday’s near-49°C “real feel” temperature is a stark reminder that monsoon alone can’t offset the intensifying effects of climate change. The combination of rising humidity, late rains, and extreme heat continues to test Delhiites’ resilience.