Mercury rises across north; Delhi records highest maximum temperature for first week of March in 50 years

Delhi records its highest March temperature in 50 years at 35.7°C, surpassing previous records set in 1999.

Several north Indian states have been witnessing a steady rise in mercury, with Delhi on Saturday (March 7, 2026) recording a maximum temperature of 35.7°C, the highest reading logged in the first week of the month in the past 50 years, an IMD official told PTI.

According to weather data from the past 50 years, earlier the highest maximum temperature reading during the first seven days of March at Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, was 34.8°C logged on March 5, 1999.

With the mercury touching 35.7°C on Saturday (March 7), it is now the hottest day in the first week of March during the 50 years, the IMD official said.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) data 2011 onwards shows that the second-highest temperature reading during the first week of March was recorded in 2016, when the mercury settled at 33.6°C on March 4.

Safdarjung, the city's primary weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7°C on Saturday, 7.3° above normal, and a minimum of 17.4°C, 3.4 notches above normal.

In neighbouring Haryana, the average maximum temperature was markedly above normal by 6.2°C. The highest temperature in the state was 36.3°C at Hisar.