Winter is retreating faster than usual as a wave of unseasonal warmth takes hold of the northern plains. On Monday, February 23, 2026, the shift towards a premature summer will become even more evident for millions across India.
While the southern tip of the country continues to grapple with moisture from a low-pressure system, the north is shedding its woollens in favour of light cotton.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that a lack of strong weather systems and a prevailing jet stream are allowing temperatures to climb steadily, with a rise of three to four degrees Celsius expected over Northwest India this week.
WILL DELHI FEEL THE HEAT TOMORROW?
Residents in the national capital should prepare for a warmer Monday.
Delhi is expected to have a mainly clear sky with mist during the early morning hours.
The maximum temperature in the city is likely to rise to a range of 29 to 31 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperatures will also remain above normal, staying between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Surface winds are expected to increase to 10 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon, making the Sun feel quite sharp as the day progresses.
This rise in temperature is occurring as surface conditions remain dry, and the solar radiation warms the ground quickly.
IS RAIN PREDICTED FOR THE REST OF INDIA?
Monday will bring varied weather across the country as different atmospheric systems interact.
Scattered to fairly widespread light or moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, reaching 30 to 40 kmph, is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Monday.
Isolated light or moderate rainfall with similar thunderstorm conditions is forecast for Odisha, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Gangetic West Bengal.
Down south, Kerala and Mahe will continue to see scattered showers as the well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal moves slowly.
WHAT ABOUT THE HIMALAYAN REGION?
The mountains will not be entirely dry tomorrow.
The IMD has forecast isolated rainfall or snowfall over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Monday.
This is due to an upper air cyclonic circulation lying over Uttarakhand and a feeble trough running from Kashmir to Ladakh.
While the hills see some moisture, the plains of Northwest India will continue their gradual warming trend, with maximum temperatures set to rise significantly over the coming seven-day period.
Visibility might still be a concern in the early hours, as dense fog is expected to persist in isolated pockets of Punjab and West Uttar Pradesh tomorrow morning.
