Intense heatwave grips Delhi; IMD issues ‘Orange Alert’ as temperatures head for 46°C

Goa Khabar : Delhiites woke up to a warm Wednesday morning as the minimum temperature settled at 28.3 degrees Celsius. Capital residents are bracing for a grueling day ahead, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an “orange alert” due to looming heatwave conditions.

An orange alert serves as a warning for residents to “be prepared” for extreme weather. According to the weather office, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around a scorching 46 degrees Celsius, with isolated pockets of the city likely to face severe, intense heatwave conditions during the day.

Morning temperatures across the city’s major weather stations consistently stayed above normal:

• Safdarjung (Base Station): 28.3°C (1.8 notches above normal)
• Palam: 28.5°C (1.4 notches above normal)
• Ridge: 28.0°C (1.3 notches above normal)
• Ayanagar: 27.0°C (0.5 notch above normal)
• Lodhi Road: 26.8°C (2.8 notches above normal)

On the air quality front, there was some relative relief. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) at 177 at 9:00 AM, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. Under CPCB guidelines, an AQI between 101 and 200 is deemed moderate, while anything above 200 slips into the poor to severe categories.

Authorities advise residents to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours.