Summers are back! At 36.8°C, Delhi records its hottest day in 2026 so far

The capital recorded its hottest day of the year so far as the mercury shot up to 36.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 8.4 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maximum temperature at Safdarjung stood at 36.8 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was recorded at 17.8 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal. Station-wise data showed the maximum at 35.3 degrees Celsius at Palam observatory, 37.1 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 37.4 degrees Celsius at Ridge and 37.4 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar. The minimum temperature was recorded at 18.1 degrees Celsius in Palam, while Lodhi Road logged 17.7 degrees Celsius. The Ridge station recorded the highest minimum temperature among the major observatories at 18.4 degrees Celsius while Ayanagar registered 16.8 degrees Celsius, IMD data showed. The weather office has forecast mainly clear skies for Thursday with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 36 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively. Meanwhile, the city's air quality remained in the 'poor' category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 242, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.