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India Meteorological Department’s data shows that the city recorded four rainy days between April 1 and 8 this year when the maximum temperature mostly stayed below normal. Though it started rising from April 9, the mercury crossed the 40-degree mark on April 16 for the first time this year.
The city saw nine days when the mercury exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. Of them, Delhiites reeled under three heatwave days between April 23 and 25. Though isolated heatwave was recorded in parts of the city on two days, a citywide heatwave was declared on April 24 when the mercury touched 42.8 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest April day in four years. Another spell of rain, along with overcast skies, was reported towards the month-end as the day temperature dipped below 40 degrees Celsius on April 28.
The night temperatures were lower than 2025. The mean minimum temperature in April this year was 20.9 degrees Celsius against 22 degrees Celsius last April. However, the minimum temperature settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, 4.6 degrees above normal, at base station Safdarjung on Tuesday. A warmer night was recorded nine years ago when the temperature touched 29 degrees Celsius on April 22, 2017.
The city may witness rain and gusty winds of up to 50kmph on Wednesday night and Thursday. Safdarjung logged 1.8mm of rainfall till 8.30am.
The meteorological conditions also kept air quality better. The average AQI was 179.4 till April 29 this year, but the month saw one satisfactory day and 10 poor days. It was similar to April 2023 when the average AQI was 175.5.
Dust and ozone were the main pollutants this April. Dipankar Saha, former head of Central Pollution Control Board’s air laboratory, said, “Wind helps in dispersion of pollutants and also doesn’t allow stagnation of pollutants in the atmosphere. The rate of ozone penetration also increases with clear and dust-free atmospheric conditions. The concentration of ozone is expected to be on the higher side during the day.“
