Rohan Umak
Weather updates 2026: National capital Delhi ended February 2026 on a scorching note, as February 28 was recorded as the hottest day of the month in three years. The mercury shot to 32.5°C on Saturday, and the steep spike in temperature was accompanied by a decline in the Air Quality.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital slipped to the ‘poor’ category.
IMD’s data sheds light on temperature history
If the figures provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) are to be believed, the last time the temperatures in February crossed this mark was on February 20, 2023, when the maximum temperature stood at 33.6°C.
Monitoring stations see a spike in mercury
The city’s base weather station, Safdarjung, saw a maximum temperature of 32.5°C. Ridge reigned supreme with 32.9°C, while Lodhi Road logged a temperature of 32.2°C. The monthly data, after analysis, indicated that February 2026 has been Delhi’s hottest one in the past three years.
Air quality dips, average AQI rises to 248
Meanwhile, the statistics provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) suggested that the capital city’s 24-hour average AQI soared to 248 on Saturday, making the air fall under the ‘poor’ category. Notably, the city saw an AQI of 200 a day earlier, i.e. on February 27, 2026.
It is noteworthy that February 2026 has also been Delhi’s most polluted February in three years, with the average AQI of 232 till February 26.
