Delhi Hits 40°C in Early Summer Heat Surge

New Delhi residents are enduring an early onslaught of summer heat as temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius for the first time this season on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting continued highs around 41 to 42 degrees Celsius through the weekend in the national capital and surrounding areas.

The mercury reached 40.3 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's base weather station, on Thursday, marking a 3.4-degree rise above normal levels. Other stations recorded even higher readings, including 41.4 degrees Celsius at the Ridge and 40.1 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road. This followed a gradual buildup, with Wednesday's maximum at Safdarjung hitting 39.2 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees above normal, and Tuesday's peak at 38.2 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures have also warmed, settling between 20 and 21 degrees Celsius overnight, signaling hotter nights ahead.

A brief respite arrived Friday morning with light rain and thunderstorms in isolated pockets, offering momentary relief from the scorching conditions that had gripped the city since midweek. However, the IMD predicts mostly clear to partly cloudy skies persisting, with thundery...