NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded its hottest day of the season on Thursday as the maximum temperature climbed to 34.3°C — seven degrees above normal — surpassing Wednesday’s 33.2°C. The mercury is expected to rise further and may touch 36°C by March 10. IMD data shows that the 34°C mark was breached in the second week of March last year, while in 2024, it was crossed only in the last week of the month. Clear skies and persistent dry weather have contributed to the sharp rise in temperature. “The city has been recording dry conditions, with the last spell of intense rain on Jan 28. Feb saw only two instances of very light showers. In the absence of an active western disturbance, Delhi has been experiencing clear skies, resulting in a spike in temperatures,” said RK Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD. Night temperatures, too, are on an upward trend. The minimum settled at 18.2°C on Thursday — five degrees above normal — compared with 15.7°C a day earlier. Minimum temperatures are likely to stay between 16°C and 18°C over the next three days. Jenamani said summer in 2022 was the warmest in recent years, while last year remained relatively milder due to frequent thunderstorms. According to IMD, temperatures are likely to rise gradually as no active western disturbance is expected in the coming week. “A gradual increase of 3-4 degrees in maximum temperatures is forecast over the next five days, with no significant change thereafter. They are expected to remain appreciably above normal (3.1°C to 5°C) to markedly above normal (5.1°C or more) for the next seven days,” the bulletin said. Maximum temperatures are expected to hover between 33°C and 35°C from Friday to Monday, and may reach 36°C by March 10. The city has recorded temperatures above 30°C for nine consecutive days. IMD data shows that maximum temperatures remained above normal through most of Feb, dipping below normal only twice — to 17.5°C on Feb 2 and 21.1°C on Feb 18 — when a weak western disturbance brought drizzle and overcast skies. Last year’s highest March temperature was 38.9°C on March 26, while in 2024 it reached 37.8°C on March 29. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category with an AQI of 142 on Thursday. It is expected to stay moderate on Friday and may deteriorate to ‘poor’ on Saturday.