Delhi Records Hottest Republic Day in 8 Years: Why Is January So Warm?

Delhi Records Hottest Republic Day in 8 Years: The national capital on Sunday experienced its warmest Republic Day in eight years. The maximum temperature settled at 23.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 26.1 degrees Celsius in 2017 on January 26.

The maximum temperature noted on January 26 in 2017 was 26.1 degrees Celsius. Forecasts predict misty conditions for Monday, with temperatures expected to peak at 23 degrees Celsius and drop to a minimum of around 8 degrees Celsius.

Historically, temperatures on January 26 have shown considerable variation. Delhi experienced the warmest January day since 2019 on January 19, with a maximum temperature of 26.1°C. The peak winter season, which typically lasts from December 27 to January 2 0, saw fewer chilly days and nights this year. It is the mildest winter since 2015–16, with an average low temperature of 9°C, two degrees above average, according to IMD statistics.

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Why Is Delhi Warm?

The weather department has attributed the temperature rise to dry northwesterly winds and clear skies.

"Despite a recent western disturbance bringing some rain and snow to parts of northwest India, the maximum temperature in Delhi has remained relatively unaffected due to bright daytime sunshine," Mahesh Palawat, the Vice President of private weather monitoring agency Skymet, was quoted as saying by PTI.

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According to IMD, the minimum temperature could increase to 9-11 degrees Celsius by the weekend while the maximum will hover between 24-26 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) entered the "poor" (216) category on January 26 from "moderate" (174) on January 25. The AQI of Delhi stood at 225 at around 8.30 a.m., according to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi.

AQEWS, which is a real-time monitoring system tracking air quality and visibility levels, also said that Delhi's air quality is projected to be "poor" on January 27 and 28 and deteriorate to "very poor" by January 29. Thereafter, from January 29 onwards, Delhi's AQI is expected to be in the "poor" to "very poor" category for the next six days.

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