Delhi sits in the landlocked northern plains of India, on the banks of the Yamuna between the Himalayas to the north and the Thar Desert to the west, at approximately 28.61°N, 77.21°E. It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) with a huge annual temperature range — scorching summers, a humid monsoon, and short, mild but foggy winters. Its distance from any moderating sea, combined with the influence of both the mountains and the desert, gives it some of the widest weather extremes of any Indian city.

Summer, from April to June, is scorching, with May and June the hottest — average highs around 38–40°C and heat waves that can approach 45–48°C. Hot, dry desert winds known as the loo blow across the plains, and dust storms (andhi) can suddenly reduce visibility. The southwest monsoon arrives around late June or early July, bringing a sweltering, humid rainy season through mid-September when the heat eases slightly but the mugginess becomes oppressive.

Winter, from December to February, is short and mild by day but surprisingly cold at night, with January the coolest month — average highs around 20°C and lows near 7–10°C, occasionally dropping close to freezing during cold waves fed by chilly Himalayan winds. The defining winter feature is dense fog, which regularly blankets the city in December and January, disrupting road, rail and air traffic for hours at a time.

Delhi receives around 760–800 mm of rain a year, the overwhelming majority delivered by the southwest monsoon between July and September, when August is the wettest month; heavy monsoon downpours can cause serious urban flooding. The rest of the year is largely dry, with only occasional light rain from winter western disturbances. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Delhi's position between the Himalayas and the Thar Desert gives it dramatic extremes: recorded temperatures have ranged from around -2°C to nearly 50°C. Beyond the heat and the monsoon, its two signature hazards are the pre-monsoon dust storms and searing loo winds of early summer, and the thick winter fog and severe air pollution that settle over the city in the cold, still months, regularly ranking Delhi among the most polluted major cities on Earth.

To follow any single measurement in Delhi more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.