Delhi Braces for More Heat and Dust as Temperatures Climb, IMD Issues Warning

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of strong winds carrying dust across the National Capital Region, Delhi is gearing up for another hot and dusty day as temperatures continue to soar. After a sweltering Sunday that saw the mercury rise well above the seasonal average, residents can expect little relief as the heatwave persists into Monday.

According to the IMD, daytime temperatures are expected to soar even higher on Monday, possibly reaching 43°C, continuing the city's spell of above-normal heat. Dusty surface winds are likely to persist, reducing visibility and adding to the discomfort of residents already struggling with the heat.

The IMD has predicted a minimum temperature of around 28°C for the day, with relative humidity recorded at 31% as of 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Delhi's air quality remains a concern too. As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 198 — categorized as “moderate,” and just two points shy of the “poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). For context, the AQI scale defines 0–50 as ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.

May 2025 Breaks 124-Year Rainfall Record, Says IMD

In a significant climate milestone, May 2025 has gone down as the wettest May India has seen in over a century. The India Meteorological Department announced that the country received an average rainfall of 126.7 mm last month — the highest since 1901.

The record-breaking rainfall was driven by an early onset of the southwest monsoon, which brought consistent showers across southern and eastern parts of the country.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IMD stated: “The average monthly rainfall for May 2025 over All-India (126.7 mm) and Central India (100.9 mm) was highest since 1901.”

This figure is a dramatic 106% above the Long Period Average (LPA) of 61.4 mm. An official IMD release reiterated: “Rainfall over the country as a whole for May 2025 was 126.7 mm, which is 106% more than its LPA of 61.4 mm.”

While the rainfall brought much-needed relief to many regions, northern parts of the country — including Delhi — continue to battle intense heat and poor air quality, highlighting the contrasting weather extremes across India.