There was no relief for residents of Delhi as the temperature continued to soar and Thursday was Delhi’s hottest day so far this season, with the maximum temperature at 40.3 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the temperature to rise in the coming days. On Thursday, the skies in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram turned hazy amid the hot and humid conditions.
However, as per IMD's prediction, Delhi might experience a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of thunder and lightning today, April 17, 2026. The IMD has also predicted scattered rain for Delhi over the next 24 hours.
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So far, the minimum temperature has remained below normal. One reason is the partly cloudy sky, which is expected to last till Sunday. Forecasters expect a rise in the night temperature as well, signalling a rise in thermal distress.
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The MeT office has predicted thunder and lightning in Delhi for today (April 17). On April 18, the national capital might see mainly clear skies becoming partly cloudy towards evening or night, the IMD forecast said. The weather is likely to become stable thereafter with prediction of clear skies.
The Met has also forecast scattered thunder and rain in parts of the subdivision that includes Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. However, temperatures are still expected to rise in Delhi.
So far, the highest temperature recorded this year was 39.1 degrees Celsius, which was on Wednesday. Last April, city had seen 40-plus temperatures and three heat waves in the first half of April.
No heat wave has been forecast in Delhi for the next seven days. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius and is also 4.5 notches above the season’s normal. Previously, April has seen even higher temperatures in Delhi. Last year, the city recorded 42.1°C on April 26, while the all-time April record is 45.6°C, set in 1941.
However, as per IMD's prediction, Delhi might experience a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of thunder and lightning today, April 17, 2026. The IMD has also predicted scattered rain for Delhi over the next 24 hours.
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Delhi AQI
Delhi’s air quality remained poor, prompting CAQM to impose preventive measures under GRAP Stage-I. Delhi recorded an AQI of 226 on Thursday, which was higher than Wednesday’s 204. Forecasts have placed the air quality between moderate and poor for the next seven days. However, an improvement to moderate is expected on Friday and Saturday.ALSO READ: Delhi to Mumbai in 12 hours?
Delhi records hottest day of season
Thursday was Delhi’s hottest day so far this season, and this is also the first time that the city’s base station, Safdarjung, has recorded a maximum above 40 degrees this season. The IMD has said the maximum temperature is expected to reach 42 degrees on Friday.So far, the minimum temperature has remained below normal. One reason is the partly cloudy sky, which is expected to last till Sunday. Forecasters expect a rise in the night temperature as well, signalling a rise in thermal distress.
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The MeT office has predicted thunder and lightning in Delhi for today (April 17). On April 18, the national capital might see mainly clear skies becoming partly cloudy towards evening or night, the IMD forecast said. The weather is likely to become stable thereafter with prediction of clear skies.
Rain likely in Delhi
The IMD has forecast “a gradual rise in the maximum temperature by 1-2°C in the next 24 hours, no large change for the subsequent three days and fall by 1-2°C, thereafter”. A gradual rise in the minimum temperature by 2-3°C is expected “in the next 24 hours, then a fall by 2°C in the subsequent 24 hours and thereafter no large change”, IMD has said. It has also forecast scattered thunder and rain. The maximum and minimum on Friday are expected to be about 40-42 degrees and 22-24 degrees Celsius.The Met has also forecast scattered thunder and rain in parts of the subdivision that includes Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. However, temperatures are still expected to rise in Delhi.
So far, the highest temperature recorded this year was 39.1 degrees Celsius, which was on Wednesday. Last April, city had seen 40-plus temperatures and three heat waves in the first half of April.
No heat wave has been forecast in Delhi for the next seven days. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius and is also 4.5 notches above the season’s normal. Previously, April has seen even higher temperatures in Delhi. Last year, the city recorded 42.1°C on April 26, while the all-time April record is 45.6°C, set in 1941.
