Delhi Weather And Best Time To Visit Delhi

The climate of Delhi can be distinctly categorized into spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter. Due to the city’s proximity to the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, the Delhi weather exhibits both extremes. While temperatures at the peak of summer can even exceed 45°C, winter brings about severe cold with temperatures dropping even below 5°C. Summer starts in early April and peaks in May. Monsoon starts in late June and gradually starts receding about mid-September. Winter starts in November and peaks in January.

The best time to visit Delhi is from October to March. The pleasant Delhi weather makes this a perfect time to soak in the beauty and charm of this grand old city.

Around the middle of February, Delhi's climate undergoes the transition from winter to summer. Beyond mid-February, the days gradually begin to get warmer. The weather is very pleasant at this time of the year, characterised by warm days, cool nights and the average temperature hovering between 20-25 °C. Such mild weather conditions make it the best time to visit Delhi and savour its varied sights and attractions. Towards the end of March, the day temperatures exceed 30 °C marking the arrival of summer. It occasionally rains in February, which is, at times, accompanied by hailstorm.

Summer begins in early April and continues till end-June or early-July, i.e. till arrival of monsoon. By the latter part of April or during early May, the average high temperature touches 40 °C, while the average low exceeds 25°C. May is Delhi's hottest month during which maximum temperatures may reach 45 °C or higher. A feature of the Delhi summer is the ‘loo’, which are extremely hot and dry winds caused by Delhi’s proximity to the Thar Desert. This factor also results in dust storms caused by dust-carrying hot winds arriving from the desert. All these factors contribute to make Delhi’s summer extremely hot and dry, though some relief is brought about by thunderstorms in May.

Towards the middle or end of June, temperatures start reducing, while humidity increases gradually. Monsoon arrives in Delhi by end-June or the first week of July. The average high and low temperatures range from 25 – 35 °C. Monthly level rainfall levels in July and August are about 250 mm, making them the wettest months of the year. The rainfall brings about a considerable drop in daytime temperatures, though the rise in humidity leads to slight discomfort. Towards the end of September, the atmospheric moisture level reduces and monsoon ends by early October.

The end of monsoon marks the arrival of the short-lived autumn season, which sets in by early or mid October and lasts till early December. During this time the Delhi weather is characterised by warm days, pleasant nights and a general dryness. Maximum temperatures drop below 30 °C by late October, accompanied by a gradual fall in average temperature. Minimum temperature drops below 20 °C. Autumn is the time when Delhi witnesses a surge in tourist activities after the lean phase of summer and monsoon. Along with spring, autumn counts as the best time to visit Delhi and enjoy its sights and sounds. This is also the time when the major festivals of Dussehra and Diwali are celebrated, which attracts tourists from all over India and abroad.

Late November or early December marks the arrival of winter. The average minimum temperatures gradually drop below 10°C. The latter half of December experiences severe cold triggered by the cold winds from the upper reaches of the Himalayas which experience snowfall. In January, winter is at its extreme when the average maximum temperatures are at 20°C and below, while the average low can drop below 5°C and hover close to 0°C. Another winter occurrence is the heavy fog which reduces visibility and makes days feel colder by cutting off sunlight. By mid-February and beyond, minimum temperature rises above 10 °C and days start getting warmer gradually, marking the end of winter and arrival of spring.