New Delhi: It has been each the warmest and essentially the most polluted February for Delhi in three years, with the absence of lively western disturbances protecting circumstances unusually heat. The typical most temperature this month thus far stands at 27 levels Celsius (°C), which was 2.8 levels above the long-period common (LPA) of 24.2°C for February. That is the very best the common most has been since February 2023, when it touched 28.2°C.
Air high quality has additionally deteriorated. The typical air high quality index (AQI) for the month thus far stands at 232 – the very best because it was 237 in 2023. As compared, the February common AQI was 214 in 2025, 218 in 2024, 225 in 2022, 288 in 2021 and 241 in 2020.
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Consultants attribute the spike in each temperature and air pollution to a extreme rainfall deficit. Delhi has recorded simply 0.5mm of rain this month, far under the traditional of 21.3mm, in response to information from the India Meteorological Division (IMD). Western disturbances affecting the Himalayan area have been weak, leading to neither substantial snowfall within the mountains nor rainfall over the plains.
“We solely noticed patchy and remoted drizzle in Delhi on a few days. Although the utmost briefly dipped because of overcast skies, it didn’t result in any important cooling,” stated Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet. He added that the shortage of rainfall additionally contributed to rising air pollution ranges. “If there’s a first rate spell of rain, pollution settle because of the washout impact. We didn’t see this in February.”
An equivalent sample was noticed in February 2025, when the common most temperature stood at 26.7°C and rainfall was restricted to 1.4mm. In distinction, February 2024 noticed 32.5mm of rainfall, protecting the common most decrease at 24.4°C and serving to preserve comparatively higher air high quality. In 2023, Delhi recorded zero rainfall and a median most of 28.2°C – the very best in 15 years.
Of the 27 days thus far this month, most temperatures have remained above regular on 25 days, dipping under regular solely on February 2 and 18 because of temporary drizzle and cloud cowl.
On Friday, the utmost temperature was recorded at 31.9°C, six levels above regular. Forecasts counsel additional rise, doubtlessly touching 33°C by March 3, 34°C on Holi (March 4) and presumably 35°C by March 5.
IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani stated the final lively western disturbance occurred on January 23, adopted by a reasonable one on January 28. “Since then, western disturbances have been pretty feeble, with no important rain within the plains and restricted snowfall within the mountains,” he stated, including that clear skies have led to a gradual rise in temperatures.
The minimal temperature on Friday stood at 13.1°C, one diploma above regular, with night time temperatures anticipated to rise to 15-17°C by Holi.
In the meantime, Delhi’s air high quality remained within the “reasonable” class for a second consecutive day, with the 24-hour common AQI at 200 at 4pm on Friday.
Forecasts by the Union authorities’s Air High quality Early Warning System point out AQI might briefly contact the “poor” class on Saturday earlier than returning to “reasonable” ranges on Sunday and Monday.
