New Delhi experienced its hottest day of the year on Thursday, with temperatures soaring to 41.7 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung weather station, which is 4 degrees above normal. The Ridge area recorded an even higher temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, marking it as the hottest spot in the city. Other areas also experienced significant heat, with Palam at 41.6°C, Lodhi Road at 41.4°C, and Ayanagar at 41.7°C. Nighttime minimum temperatures climbed as well, with Safdarjung recording 25.4 degrees Celsius, indicating the warmest night spell of the season. Despite the extreme heat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not declared a heatwave, as the criteria for such a declaration have not yet been met. The IMD defines a heatwave as occurring when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal. Looking ahead, the IMD has forecasted potential heatwave conditions over the next two days, with some respite expected on April 26 due to partly cloudy skies and thunderstorms. Meanwhile, air quality in the city remains in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 176.