Climate of Delhi at a Glance – A Tourist Guide
Mean Maximum/Minimum Temperatures and Monthly
Rainfall over Delhi
45 Rainfall Mean Maximum Mean Minimum 250
225.3 225.8
40
39.6 39.3
200
35 36.2
Temperature ( Deg. C )
35.1
33.3 33.9
30 28.3 32.9
Rainfall ( mm )
26.8
25.9 25.9
30
24.4 139.6 28.3
150
25
21.5
24.2 19.5
20 23
21.1
15.4 100
15 12.8
10.1 55
10 8.2
7.3 50
25.9
5 22.6 18.3 14.8 17.9
11.5 7.5
4.3
0 0
Feb
Oct
Jan
Mar
Apr
Sep
Dec
Jun
Jul
May
Aug
Nov
Climate of Delhi
New Delhi - the capital of India - is a land locked city. The distance from the sea
gives Delhi an extreme type of continental climate with the prevalence of continental air
during major parts of the year. Only during the three monsoon months of July, August
and September does the air of oceanic origin penetrate to this region and causes
increased humidity, cloudiness and rain. The year can be broadly divided into four
seasons. The cold season starts from December and extends up to end of February.
This is followed by the hot weather season which lasts till about end of June when
monsoon arrives over the region. The monsoon continues till the third week of
September. The two post monsoon months of October and November constitute a
transition season from monsoon to winter conditions.
The summers in Delhi are very hot and winters very cold. The temperature may
rise up to about 45 degrees Celsius in summers, though the average temperature is
around 39-40 degree Celsius. There are about 4-6 days of heat wave when the
maximum temperature of a day rises 4-6 degree Celsius above the normal values.
Adequate precaution has to be taken on such days before going out in the hot summer
afternoons. Though the winters are not bitterly cold on most of the days, the
temperatures may fall to 3-4 degree Celsius on for a few days in winters when the cold
winds from the Himalayas prevail over the region making the winters chilly. The winters
are also marked by mist and fog in the mornings though the Sun is often out in the
afternoons.
If you are traveling to Delhi, the best time would be during October to March.
During October and November weather would be very comfortable; and during
December and January you can enjoy the cold weather with occasional rainy days.
During February and March nights are cool and the days filled with bright sunshine. So
winter is the best season to visit Delhi. It is not that in summer you can’t visit Delhi. In
summer, the days are hot and nights warm. The rain loving tourists may also visit Delhi
during Monsoon season, though it could become quite sultry on individual days.
Averages
Relative
Mean Mean Month’s Rainy days Days with
Humidity
Max. Min. Total
Month (%)
Temp. Temp. Rain
(ºC) (ºC) (mm) ≥ ≥
Mor- Eve- Thunder Fog
2.5mm 0.3mm
Ning ning
JAN. 21.1 7.3 77 45 22.6 1.7 2.8 1.4 6.8
FEB. 24.2 10.1 68 37 18.3 1.3 2.4 1.9 2.1
MAR. 30.0 15.4 56 29 14.8 1.2 3.0 3.1 0.3
APR. 36.2 21.5 39 20 11.5 0.9 1.7 2.6 0
MAY 39.6 25.9 37 21 17.9 1.4 2.8 4.8 0
JUNE 39.3 28.3 52 35 55.0 3.6 5.9 6.0 0
JULY 35.1 26.8 75 61 225.3 10.0 13.8 8.0 0
AUG. 33.3 25.9 80 68 225.8 11.3 14.6 7.8 0
SEP. 33.9 24.4 72 56 139.6 5.4 7.4 4.0 0.1
OCT. 32.9 19.5 62 41 25.9 1.6 2.1 1.6 0.2
NOV. 28.3 12.8 61 40 4.3 0.1 0.7 0.3 1.1
DEC. 23.0 8.2 73 47 7.5 0.6 1.2 0.8 6.2
Annual 31.4 18.8 63 42 768.5 39.1 58.4 42.3 16.8
Extremes
Highest Maximum Lowest Minimum Highest rainfall Heaviest rainfall
Month Temperature Temperature in the month in 24 Hours
Date Date Date
ºC (Year) ºC (Year) (mm) Year (mm) (year)
29 16 28
JAN. 30.0 (1991) -0.6 (1935) 173.2 1885 116.8 (1885)
26 11 21
FEB. 34.1 (2006) 1.7 (1950) 153.4 1915 104.1 (1942)
31 06 11
MAR. 40.6 (1945) 4.4 (1945) 78.2 1915 62.2 (1915)
29 02 16
APR. 45.6 (1941) 10.7 (1965) 183.5 1983 134 (1983)
29 02 24
MAY 47.2 (1944) 15.2 (1969) 165 2008 60 (1976)
17 23 28
JUNE 46.7 (1945) 18.9 (1932) 414.8 1936 235.5 (1936)
01 31 21
JULY 45.0 (1931) 18.4 (1991) 632.2 2003 266.2 (1958)
03 23 2
AUG. 41.0 (1972) 21.2 (1965) 583.3 1961 184 (19610
16 26 16
SEP. 40.6 (1938) 17.3 (1964) 492.3 1900 176.5 (1904)
17 31 1
OCT. 39.4 (1951) 9.4 (1937) 238.3 1954 172.7 (1954)
03 28 27
NOV. 36.1 (2001) 3.9 (1938) 100.1 1972 93.4 (1972)
03 26 15
DEC. 29.3 (1987) 1.1 (1945) 134.4 1884 53.3 (1894)
29 16 21
Annual 47.2 (1944) -0.6 (1935) 1533.1 1933 266.2 (1958)
Government of India
Ministry of Earth Sciences
India Meteorological Department
Daily Normal Maximum & Minimum Temperatures and Rainfall
45 18
Rainfall Maximum Temperature Minimum Temperature
40 16
35 14
Temperature (Deg C)
30 12
Rainfall (mm)
25 10
20 8
15 6
10 4
5 2
0 0
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Prepared by
Meteorological Office
Safdarjung Airport
New Delhi – 110 003
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Weather enquiry for New Delhi : + 91 11 24611322
For weather enquiry of any station in the country dial 1800 180 1717 (Toll free)
Websites for weather forecast for New Delhi and other cities in India
www.amssdelhi.gov.in
www.imd.gov.in
