New Delhi, February 27, 2025 – The national capital experienced its warmest February night in over seven decades, with Safdarjung recording a minimum temperature of 19.5°C on Thursday, the highest since records began in 1951, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The previous highest February minimum temperature at Safdarjung was 19°C, recorded on February 25, 2015. Other notable high minimum temperatures for the month include 18.6°C in 1973, 18.5°C on February 20, 2015, 18.2°C in 1992, and 18.0°C in 1988.
Despite the unusually warm night, the maximum temperature stood at 25°C, which is 1.1 degrees below the normal average, IMD stated. This comes a day after Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature of the season at 32.4°C on Wednesday.
Weather Outlook: Temperature to Drop, Thunderstorm Expected
According to Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet Weather, a cloudy sky and light drizzling are expected to bring a slight temperature dip. The minimum temperature will likely remain stable until March 3 or 4, after which a new western disturbance in early March could alter wind patterns, bringing snowfall to the hills.Palawat stated that winter will officially end around March 10, marking the start of a steady rise in atmospheric pressure and eliminating any further major temperature drops.
The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with rain for Friday, with temperatures expected to range between 16°C and 23°C.
Delhi's Air Quality Remains 'Poor'
Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 215 at 4 PM on Thursday, placing it in the "poor" category, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI classification is as follows:- 0-50: Good
- 51-100: Satisfactory
- 101-200: Moderate
- 201-300: Poor
- 301-400: Very Poor
- 401-500: Severe