Delhi’s Unrelenting Heat: Spring Skips the Capital as Mercury Poised to Hit 32°C and Air Quality Remains a Concern 

According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi is experiencing an early and intense onset of summer-like conditions, with temperatures expected to soar to 32 degrees Celsius by February 27—significantly above seasonal norms—due to clear skies and a lack of cooling Western Disturbances, while the city simultaneously grapples with persistently poor air quality (AQI ranging from 209 to 298 across most areas) that is causing respiratory issues for residents. This combination of rising heat and toxic air has effectively eliminated the brief spring season, forcing outdoor workers to struggle in dangerous conditions, prompting families to alter daily routines, and creating a public health concern as vulnerable populations face prolonged exposure to pollutants intensified by the warmth, signaling that Delhi’s harsh summer has begun nearly two months ahead of schedule.

Delhi’s Unrelenting Heat: Spring Skips the Capital as Mercury Poised to Hit 32°C and Air Quality Remains a Concern 

For Delhiites, the brief, pleasant embrace of spring is becoming an increasingly rare luxury. If you step out in the capital this week, you’ll feel it—the sun has a bite that feels out of place for late February. 

On Sunday morning, the city woke up to a deceptively beautiful day. Clear skies and a gentle 15 degrees Celsius at 6 AM tempted many to dust off their running shoes or finally enjoy a leisurely cup of chai on the balcony. But by noon, the warmth was unmistakable. It wasn’t the gentle warmth of an early spring; it was the precursor to the oppressive heat that usually arrives in late March or April. 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi is on the cusp of a significant weather shift. After recording a maximum of 28.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday—a full 2.6 notches above the seasonal average—the city is bracing for daytime temperatures to cross the 30-degree Celsius mark in the coming days. By the end of the week, particularly around February 27, the mercury is expected to touch a scorching 32 degrees Celsius. 

The Vanishing Spring: A City’s Weather Whiplash 

For residents, this isn’t just a statistic; it’s a lived reality that disrupts routines and signals a troubling pattern. 

“I usually take my son to the park around 4 PM when he gets back from school,” says Priya Dutta, a homemaker in RK Puram. “But for the last three days, it’s been too hot. The slides and swings are burning up, and he starts sweating within ten minutes. We’re having to shift our outdoor time to later in the evening, but then the light fades.” 

This anecdote captures the whiplash Delhiites are experiencing. The IMD’s forecast confirms this shift. After February 23, residents can expect a rapid escalation. While mornings will be shrouded in a thin layer of mist, they will give way to sweltering afternoons. The minimum temperatures, which are already above normal at 14-16 degrees Celsius, offer little respite, indicating that nights are getting warmer as well. 

This isn’t just about discomfort. For the city’s vast population of outdoor workers—construction laborers, street vendors, autowala, and delivery executives—the early arrival of intense heat has direct consequences on health and livelihood. 

“I start my rounds by 8 AM,” shares Ramesh, a courier delivery agent near ITO. “By 11, it feels like a summer afternoon. I’m going through two-and-a-half litres of water before lunch. This kind of heat in February means the summer will be unbearable. We are already dreading April and May.” 

The ‘Poor’ Constant: Breathing Trouble in a Warming City 

While the rising temperature is a cause for concern, it is the city’s persistent poor air quality that transforms discomfort into a public health crisis. On a day when the sun shone bright, the air remained toxic. 

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) painted a grim picture across the city. Anand Vihar logged an AQI of 298, teetering on the edge of ‘Very Poor’. RK Puram (287), Chandni Chowk (273), and DTU (242) all fell squarely in the ‘Poor’ category. While the IGI Airport area fared relatively better with a ‘Moderate’ 181, it offered little comfort to the millions breathing the city’s air. 

The combination of rising heat and poor air creates a unique urban misery. Warmer temperatures can increase the concentration of certain pollutants near the ground. For the 20 million people in the National Capital Region, this means stepping out into a haze that is both visually obstructive and physiologically damaging. 

Dr. Anuja Sharma, a physician at a clinic in South Delhi, has seen a direct correlation. “We are seeing a spike in patients complaining of persistent dry cough, throat irritation, and watery eyes,” she explains. “People assume it’s a seasonal allergy, and while that plays a part, the high AQI is the primary culprit. The heat causes people to breathe more rapidly and deeply, drawing these pollutants further into their lungs. For my patients with asthma or COPD, this is a particularly dangerous time of year.” 

The ‘poor’ AQI designation from the CPCB means that prolonged exposure can lead to breathing discomfort. For sensitive groups—children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions—it’s a direct health advisory to limit outdoor activity. Yet, for a city that runs on its feet, staying indoors is a privilege few can afford. 

Why Is This Happening? Unpacking the Forecast 

While residents look for relief, meteorologists point to a combination of factors driving this unusual weather. 

1. Clear Skies and Strong Sun:The IMD has forecast a “mainly clear sky” for the coming days. The absence of cloud cover allows the sun’s radiation to heat the ground directly and intensely during the daytime.
2. Lack of Western Disturbances:February usually sees active Western Disturbances—storm systems originating from the Mediterranean region—that bring winter rains to North India. These rains act as a natural coolant. This year, a significant lull in these systems has meant no respite from the relentless sunshine.
3. Dry Northwesterly Winds:While the city isn’t receiving a strong, icy spell from the mountains, the winds that are blowing are dry. Dry air heats up and cools down much faster than moist air, leading to the high diurnal variation—hot days and relatively cooler nights, though nights are also trending warmer.

A Glimmer of Morning Mist, But No Respite 

The forecast mentions “misty mornings” over the next few days. While the word ‘mist’ might sound poetic, in Delhi’s context, it’s often a euphemism for shallow fog that can be laden with pollutants. For commuters, particularly those on the roads early in the morning, this means reduced visibility and potentially higher exposure to particulate matter settling close to the ground. 

The IMD has, notably, not issued any weather warnings. For the authorities, this means no immediate emergency. But for the common person, the lack of a warning doesn’t equate to a lack of impact. 

Living in the New Normal 

The conversation in Delhi is shifting. It’s no longer about if the summer will be hot, but about how early it will start and how long it will last. This year, it seems, summer has decided to gate-crash late February, shortening the transitional period that the city’s ecology and its people rely on to adapt. 

Families are beginning to pull out their coolers and service their air conditioners earlier than ever. Local parks that were bustling in the evenings just two weeks ago are seeing thinner crowds. The demand for summer wear—cotton clothes, sunglasses, and light linens—has spiked in local markets. 

As Delhi braces for a potential 32-degree Celsius day by the end of the week, the numbers serve as a stark reminder of the broader shifts in our climate patterns. The misty mornings will offer fleeting moments of calm, but by midday, the capital will be a testament to the fact that the seasons are no longer what they used to be. 

For now, the advice from doctors and weather experts is simple: stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during peak sun hours (12 PM to 4 PM), and if you have respiratory issues, keep your medication handy and consider wearing a mask. The sun is out, the heat is on, and Delhi’s long, harsh summer has unofficially begun.