New Delhi: Delhi and a large part of the country are already feeling the heat this year — far earlier than usual — with temperatures climbing sharply even before spring could properly arrive.This unusual shift is another sign that climate change is beginning to override traditional weather patterns like La Niña, which normally cools global temperatures, according to an analysis by Climate Trends. On March 11, Delhi recorded the hottest day of the year, with a maximum temperature of 36.8°C, also the highest ever recorded in the first half of March since 2011.In the past few weeks, the mercury during the day hovered around 35°C in Delhi-NCR — roughly 5°C to 7°C above the seasonal average — while night temperatures remained 3°C to 4°C higher than normal, at around 17°C. The early spike signalled a shortened winter and the near disappearance of the spring season, a trend that meteorologists say is becoming increasingly common across northern India. The unusual warmth comes despite the presence of La Niña, a climate phenomenon marked by cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. That’s because rising greenhouse gas emissions has been steadily pushed temperatures upward.According to climate data, 2025 recorded an all-India mean land surface temperature 0.28°C above the 1991-2020 average, making it the eight warmest year since 1901, even though La Niña conditions were present. Scientists note that all past 11 years were among the warmest on record, underscoring the growing dominance of long-term global warming trends. Meteorologists warn that the situation could worsen as the season progresses. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast above-normal heatwave days across much of the country between March and May, suggesting that the early heat in Delhi could be a precursor to a hotter-than-usual summer. “Persistent anti-cyclonic circulation over Gujarat and adjoining areas pushed warm easterly winds towards Delhi and delayed the sea breeze, which brings down temperatures. While the system has now moved away, bringing some respite, we have a bigger problem to deal with. This is a natural phenomenon that will keep recurring at regular intervals. However, the point to be noted is that under the warming climatic conditions, the city would be subjected to an increased number of heatwave days in the future as average temperatures are already high,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet Weather. One of the key reasons behind the warm spell is the lack of winter rainfall and snowfall across northern India. February was particularly dry, recording an 81% rainfall deficiency, with just 4.2 mm of rainfall compared to the normal 22.7 mm. Even though nine western disturbances passed through the Western Himalayas — almost double the usual number — most were too weak to result in significant precipitation.Climate experts say these shifts highlight how global warming is reshaping seasonal patterns in India. Natural climate systems like El Niño, La Niña, and the Indian Ocean Dipole still influence weather, but their traditional impacts are increasingly being altered by rising global temperatures. The analysis underlines that if the current trend continues, India could face more frequent heatwaves, erratic rainfall and shorter winters in the coming decades, which could significantly affect public health, agriculture, water availability and economic productivity. Apart from Delhi, the study notes that Mumbai recorded 40°C on March 10, about 7.6°C above normal, triggering severe heatwave conditions. Heatwave conditions were also reported in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Vidarbha in Maharashtra, with temperatures shooting up several degrees above average.
