Delhi logs warmest March in 3 years amid cooler end

Delhi's maximum temperature may have dipped over the past few days, but it has still been a warmer-than-usual March, with the average monthly maximum temperature recorded over two degrees above normal, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

The monthly average maximum temperature as of Sunday was 32.2 degrees Celsius (°C), which is Delhi's warmest since March 2022, when it was 33.4°C. The long-period average maximum for March is 29.9°C, officials said. The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was recorded at 15.6°C this month, the same as the long-period average (LPA), which is 15.6°C.

"Barring the past few days, where the maximum has dropped marginally, it has largely been above normal. There has not been considerable rain this month across Delhi NCR, which has meant there has not been any cooling effect," an IMD official said.

Delhi has so far recorded only 1.8mm of rainfall this month, against an average of 17.4mm of rainfall for March, making it a considerable deficit, according to previous years' data.