What is the Highest Temperature Ever Recorded in Delhi?

Delhi’s summers are growing dangerously hotter, with 2024 seeing a controversial 52.3°C spike. Even reliable stations confirm recurring 45°C+ days in 2025. These prolonged heatwaves stress the city’s infrastructure, strain water and power resources, and intensify health threats, underscoring the urgency of climate resilience efforts.

Kirti Sharma
Jun 13, 2025, 12:11 IST
What is the highest temperature ever recorded in Delhi?
What is the highest temperature ever recorded in Delhi?

Delhi, the Indian capital, has witnessed heightened heatwaves over the last few years, with temperatures rising to record levels. The all-time high temperature in Delhi is a matter of official records and some inconsistencies resulting from sensor malfunctioning, but the figures indicate a disturbing trend of excessive heat in the city.

Although individual temperature readings, like the 52.3°C reading, have been questioned as possible readings errors by sensors, sustained readings from other stations validate an alarming trend towards hotter and longer summers. These soaring temperatures have led to increased energy demand, water shortages, and heightened health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. Understanding Delhi’s highest temperature records is crucial for preparing the city to adapt and build resilience against future heatwaves.

Temperature in Delhi Today: 13 June 2025

According to the IMD Weather Forecast, the maximum temperature in Delhi today will be 41°C and the lowest could be 32°C. There is no major change in temperature today compared to previous days. Delhi is still expected to go through sever heat waves today.

Recorded Highest Temperatures in Recent Years

According to BBC, on 29 May 2024, the Mungeshpur weather station in Delhi measured a temperature of 52.3°C, which is the highest temperature in the city's history, breaking the previous record of 48.0°C in 2019. The heatwave lasted for more than ten days, and the temperatures every day remained more than 45°C. Even night-time temperatures were exceptionally high, rarely falling below 30°C, adding to the heat stress in the populace.

But this 52.3°C reading was termed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) an "outlier" among the other stations in Delhi, which had measured 45.2°C to 49.1°C at that time.The IMD sent teams there to validate the readings and intimated that the extremely high reading could be due to a malfunction of a sensor or local weather conditions affecting the measurement.

The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, had a maximum temperature of 46.8°C on the same day, which is a more consistent and reliable figure for the city’s heat intensity during that period.

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Delhi: Current Heatwave Peaks in 2025

In June 2025, temperatures in various parts of Delhi touched nearly 45°C, with the peak at Aya Nagar on June 9, 2025, being 45.3°C. Temperatures in some other significant areas like Palam and Ridge reached close to 44-45°C.. It was the second instance in the month that the temperature had passed the 40-degree mark, and for some days, heatwave warnings were released by the Indian Meteorological Department.

On June 11, 2025, the city experienced its hottest day so far for the year, with up to 45.5°C at Aya Nagar and a heat index (perceived temperature) of 47.7°C with low humidity.

Delhi witnessed a severe heatwave on June 12, 2025, with the "feels-like" temperature reaching 51.9°C due to a mix of high temperature and humidity. The IMD declared a red alert for the day and expected extreme heat conditions for at least a couple of days.

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Delhi’s rising temperatures have resulted in increased power demand, with a historic peak of 8,302 megawatts recorded during the 2024 heatwave.

The city is also facing problems such as water scarcity and has charged penalties for water wastage to cope with the crisis amidst these heatwaves.

The prolonged heatwaves and fresh record highs have severe health impacts, with heightened risk of heat sickness and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations.

Date
Location
Temperature Recorded
Notes
May 29, 2024
Mungeshpur
52.3°C
Highest ever recorded; possibly sensor error or local anomaly
May 29, 2024
Safdarjung
46.8°C
Reliable official city temperature
June 9, 2025
Aya Nagar
45.3°C
Highest in recent June heatwave
June 11, 2025
Aya Nagar
45.5°C
Warmest day of 2025 so far
June 13, 2025
Various
41°C
Severe heatwave with high humidity

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The highest recorded temperature of Delhi is officially recorded as 52.3°C at the Mungeshpur weather station in May 2024.  The Safdarjung observatory and other stations give a highest reading of 45-47°C for recent heatwaves as better and more stable readings. These extreme temperatures show the increasing challenge of climate change and urban heat in Delhi, which requires immediate action to reduce heat effects and ensure public health.

 

Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

    Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 2.4 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. Apart from writing, she's a baking enthusiast and home baker. As a Content Writer at Jagran New Media, she writes for the General Knowledge section of JagranJosh.com.

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