Delhi records hottest first week of March in 50 years

Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature for the first week of March in the past five decades, with the mercury touching 35.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).Weather data indicates that the previous highest temperature during the first seven days of March was 34.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on March 5, 1999, at Safdarjung Observatory, the city’s primary weather station. Saturday’s reading surpassed that record, making it the hottest day in the first week of March in the last 50 years.
The Safdarjung station reported a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius, which was 7.3 degrees above the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature settled at 17.4 degrees Celsius, about 3.4 degrees above normal.Data maintained by the India Meteorological Department since 2011 shows that the second-highest temperature during the first week of March was recorded in 2016, when the mercury reached 33.6 degrees Celsius on March 4.The surge in temperatures is not limited to the national capital. Several northern states have also witnessed an unusual rise in mercury levels.
In Haryana, the average maximum temperature was reported to be 6.2 degrees Celsius above normal, with Hisar recording the state’s highest temperature of 36.3 degrees Celsius.In Uttarakhand, temperatures have risen steadily in Dehradun and surrounding areas over the past few days. Official data shows the minimum temperature in Dehradun increased sharply from 12°C to 17.8°C, which is six degrees above normal. The maximum temperature reached 31.5°C on Saturday, around five degrees above the seasonal average.According to the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun, both plains and hill regions of Uttarakhand have recorded significantly above-normal temperatures in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, several parts of Jammu and Kashmir continued to experience above-normal temperatures, although day temperatures showed a slight dip compared to the previous day. Officials said weather conditions are expected to change soon, with forecasts indicating a spell of rain and wet weather between March 10 and 12 due to an approaching western disturbance.In Jammu, the maximum temperature reached 30°C, while the minimum settled at 19.1°C, which were 4.6 and 5.6 degrees above normal, respectively. The previous day, the city had recorded a high of 31.8°C.Similarly, Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple, recorded a maximum temperature of 28°C and a minimum of 17.8°C, both several degrees above normal.
The rising mercury trend was also observed in Himachal Pradesh, where the India Meteorological Department office in Shimla has predicted heat wave conditions in four districts — Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Solan — on Sunday.Heat wave conditions were reported in Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Solan, and Dharamshala, officials said.Una recorded the highest daytime temperature at 32.8°C, while Tabo was the coldest during the night with a minimum of 1.8°C, reflecting sharp regional contrasts even as the broader region experiences unusually warm conditions for early March.