Delhi's 'Real Feel' Soars To 51°C In Muggy Conditions; Rain To Bring Relief From Monday

Published 28 June 2026 · local

Delhi's 'Real Feel' Soars To 51°C In Muggy Conditions; Rain To Bring Relief From Monday Published By, Last Updated: June 28, 2026, 08:57 IST According

Delhi's 'Real Feel' Soars To 51°C In Muggy Conditions; Rain To Bring Relief From Monday Published By, Last Updated: June 28, 2026, 08:57 IST According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to remain between 39°C and 41°C until Monday before gradually dropping to 33°C-35°C. Rapid Read A wet-bulb temperature of 32°C or more makes prolonged outdoor work difficult even for healthy and acclimatised people.(File) Despite forecasts of rain and thunderstorms over the weekend, Delhi experienced one of its most uncomfortable days of the summer, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recording a heat index, or “real feel" temperature, of 51.3°C and a peak wet-bulb temperature of 29.77°C. The city registered a maximum temperature of 41.3°C, which was 4.1°C above normal, while the minimum settled at 30.8°C, 2.9°C above normal. Humidity remained elevated throughout the day, fluctuating between 35% and 63%, and experts said the muggy conditions are expected to persist over the next few days.

Explaining the prevailing weather pattern, Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet Weather, said, “Currently, there are southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea, which are feeding moisture over Pakistan and northwestern India, which are increasing the humidity level. The ‘feels-like’ temperature is high due to this increased humidity, combined with the high temperature. The monsoon is also not close, as, if it were, winds would be approaching from the Bay of Bengal, which we are currently not seeing. So the ‘feels-like’ temperature is likely to remain high over the coming few days." The heat index remained high through the day, measuring 46.2°C at 11.30 am before rising to 47.8°C at 5.30 pm. The IMD uses the heat index to indicate how hot conditions feel to the human body by combining air temperature with relative humidity. Higher humidity results in a higher heat index.

Experts also pointed to elevated wet-bulb temperatures, which reached 29.77°C at 2.30 pm and 28.09°C at 5.30 pm. A wet-bulb temperature of 32°C or more makes prolonged outdoor work difficult even for healthy and acclimatised people. At 35°C, the highest value on the scale, the human body can no longer regulate its temperature, increasing the risk of heat stroke and collapse. According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to remain between 39°C and 41°C until Monday before gradually dropping to 33°C-35°C. The weather department has also forecast rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds from Monday to Friday. A yellow alert has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday. The minimum temperature is also likely to decline during the week, reaching 21°C to 23°C by Friday. Palawat said the expected fall in temperatures is linked to the approaching weather system.