Did mercury really hit 52.3°C in Delhi? IMD to investigate data

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is currently investigating the temperature sensor at the automatic weather station in Delhi's Mungeshpur to ensure it is functioning correctly, as reported by IMD Director General M Mohapatra.

According to the IMD, the maximum temperature across Delhi NCR varied from 45.2°C to 49.1°C in different parts of the city. However, an outlier was reported in Mungeshpur, where the temperature reached 52.9°C. This unusually high reading is suspected to be due either to an error in the sensor or specific local factors, stated the weather agency.

The Mungeshpur station recorded a temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in India. Dr. Mohapatra noted that Delhi has 20 monitoring stations, with 14 of them recording a drop in temperature. The average temperature across these stations was observed to be in the range of 45-50°C. The IMD is examining the sensor data from Mungeshpur to confirm the accuracy of the recorded temperature.

Northwest Delhi’s Mungeshpur reported the record-breaking temperature at 2.30 pm on May 29.

Later in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated, "The 52.3°C temperature report for Delhi is probably inaccurate, and IMD officials are verifying it. An official statement will be issued soon".

It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3°C in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify the news report. The official position will be stated soon. https://t.co/uaZMfRac1q

— Kiren Rijiju (मोदी का परिवार) (@KirenRijiju) May 29, 2024

The city recorded 49.9°C on May 28, the highest ever reported in 100 years.

Some areas, such as Mungeshpur and Narela, registered temperatures of 49.9 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees Celsius above normal. Najafgarh also recorded 49.8 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature before this was clocked at  49.2°C in May 2022 in the national capital.

Prior to May 28, the city recorded the highest temperature on May 16, 2022, at 49.2 degrees Celsius, which was reported to be the highest in the past 100 years.

However, bringing some relief, the IMD reported light-intensity rain in some areas of the nation's capital territory.

According to DISCOM officials, the national capital's peak power demand clocked 8302 MW, the highest ever in the history of the city.  Delhi’s peak power demand had clocked 8000 MW on May 22. "12 days in a row Delhi’s peak power demand has crossed 7000 MW in 2024," DISCOM officials told PTI.

However, RK Jenamani, senior scientist IMD, speaking to Moneycontrol declined to give an official reading of the temperature, saying the reading for the maximum temperature is flashed around 5.30 pm in the government-approved weather stations.