diff --git a/tests/test_web_observability.py b/tests/test_web_observability.py
index 894f01ce..60b306ad 100644
--- a/tests/test_web_observability.py
+++ b/tests/test_web_observability.py
@@ -1339,6 +1339,59 @@ def test_force_refresh_panel_returns_cached_payload_when_refresh_is_slow(monkeyp
     assert refresh_calls == 1
 
 
+def test_stale_panel_returns_cached_payload_while_refreshing(monkeypatch):
+    import asyncio
+
+    refresh_calls = 0
+
+    class FakeCache:
+        def get_city_cache(self, kind, city):
+            assert kind == "panel"
+            assert city == "paris"
+            return {
+                "payload": {
+                    "name": "paris",
+                    "deb": {"prediction": 20.0},
+                    "from_cache": True,
+                },
+            }
+
+    async def fake_run_in_threadpool(fn, *args, **kwargs):
+        if fn is city_api.legacy_routes._refresh_city_panel_cache:
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+        return fn(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def refresh_panel(city, force_refresh):
+        nonlocal refresh_calls
+        refresh_calls += 1
+        return {"name": city, "deb": {"prediction": 21.0}, "from_cache": False}
+
+    city_api._CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS.clear()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api, "run_in_threadpool", fake_run_in_threadpool)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api.legacy_routes, "_normalize_city_or_404", lambda name: name.strip().lower())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api.legacy_routes, "_CACHE_DB", FakeCache())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api.legacy_routes, "_city_cache_is_fresh", lambda entry, ttl: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api.legacy_routes, "_overlay_latest_wunderground_current", lambda city, payload: payload)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(city_api.legacy_routes, "_refresh_city_panel_cache", refresh_panel)
+
+    async def run_request():
+        payload = await city_api.get_city_detail_payload(
+            object(),
+            "Paris",
+            force_refresh=False,
+            depth="panel",
+        )
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.06)
+        return payload
+
+    result = asyncio.run(run_request())
+
+    assert result["from_cache"] is True
+    assert result["deb"]["prediction"] == 20.0
+    assert refresh_calls == 1
+
+
 def test_force_refresh_full_detail_returns_cached_payload_when_refresh_is_slow(monkeypatch):
     import asyncio
 
diff --git a/web/services/city_api.py b/web/services/city_api.py
index 35db29f1..691272cf 100644
--- a/web/services/city_api.py
+++ b/web/services/city_api.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ _CITY_FULL_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS: Dict[str, "asyncio.Task[Dict[str, Any]]"] = {}
 _CITY_FULL_REFRESH_LOCK = asyncio.Lock()
 _CITY_FORCE_REFRESH_INFLIGHT: Dict[str, "asyncio.Task[Dict[str, Any]]"] = {}
 _CITY_FORCE_REFRESH_LOCK = asyncio.Lock()
+_CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS: Dict[str, "asyncio.Task[Dict[str, Any]]"] = {}
 CityDetailPayloadCacheKey = Tuple[str, str, str, str, str, int]
 CityChartDetailPayloadCacheKey = Tuple[str, str, str, int]
 CityDetailBatchResponseCacheKey = Tuple[Tuple[str, ...], bool, str, str, str, str]
@@ -144,6 +145,37 @@ async def _refresh_city_cache_with_stale_timeout(
     )
 
 
+def _start_city_cache_stale_refresh(
+    city: str,
+    kind: str,
+    refresh_fn: Callable[[str, bool], Dict[str, Any]],
+) -> None:
+    normalized = str(city or "").strip().lower()
+    cache_kind = str(kind or "").strip().lower()
+    if not normalized or not cache_kind:
+        return
+    key = f"{cache_kind}:{normalized}"
+    existing = _CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS.get(key)
+    if existing is not None and not existing.done():
+        return
+
+    async def _run_refresh() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return await run_in_threadpool(refresh_fn, normalized, False)
+
+    task = asyncio.create_task(_run_refresh())
+    _CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS[key] = task
+
+    def _cleanup(done: "asyncio.Task[Dict[str, Any]]") -> None:
+        if _CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS.get(key) is done:
+            _CITY_STALE_REFRESH_TASKS.pop(key, None)
+        try:
+            done.result()
+        except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - defensive background guard
+            logger.warning("city stale refresh failed city={} kind={}: {}", normalized, cache_kind, exc)
+
+    task.add_done_callback(_cleanup)
+
+
 async def _overlay_cached_wunderground(city: str, payload: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     return await run_in_threadpool(
         legacy_routes._overlay_latest_wunderground_current,
@@ -613,6 +645,10 @@ async def get_city_detail_payload(
         cached_entry = await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._CACHE_DB.get_city_cache, "panel", city)
         if cached_entry:
             if not legacy_routes._city_cache_is_fresh(cached_entry, legacy_routes.CITY_PANEL_CACHE_TTL_SEC):
+                payload = cached_entry.get("payload") or {}
+                if payload:
+                    _start_city_cache_stale_refresh(city, "panel", legacy_routes._refresh_city_panel_cache)
+                    return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, payload)
                 return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_panel_cache, city, False)
             return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, cached_entry.get("payload") or {})
         return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_panel_cache, city, False)
@@ -626,6 +662,10 @@ async def get_city_detail_payload(
         cached_entry = await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._CACHE_DB.get_city_cache, "nearby", city)
         if cached_entry:
             if not legacy_routes._city_cache_is_fresh(cached_entry, legacy_routes.CITY_NEARBY_CACHE_TTL_SEC):
+                payload = cached_entry.get("payload") or {}
+                if payload:
+                    _start_city_cache_stale_refresh(city, "nearby", legacy_routes._refresh_city_nearby_cache)
+                    return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, payload)
                 return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_nearby_cache, city, False)
             return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, cached_entry.get("payload") or {})
         return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_nearby_cache, city, False)
@@ -639,6 +679,10 @@ async def get_city_detail_payload(
         cached_entry = await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._CACHE_DB.get_city_cache, "market", city)
         if cached_entry:
             if not legacy_routes._market_analysis_cache_is_fresh(cached_entry):
+                payload = cached_entry.get("payload") or {}
+                if payload:
+                    _start_city_cache_stale_refresh(city, "market", legacy_routes._refresh_city_market_cache)
+                    return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, payload)
                 return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_market_cache, city, False)
             return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, cached_entry.get("payload") or {})
         return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_market_cache, city, False)
@@ -661,6 +705,10 @@ async def get_city_summary_payload(
     cached_entry = await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._CACHE_DB.get_city_cache, "summary", city)
     if cached_entry:
         if not legacy_routes._city_cache_is_fresh(cached_entry, legacy_routes.CITY_SUMMARY_CACHE_TTL_SEC):
+            payload = cached_entry.get("payload") or {}
+            if payload:
+                _start_city_cache_stale_refresh(city, "summary", legacy_routes._refresh_city_summary_cache)
+                return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, payload)
             return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_summary_cache, city, False)
         return await _overlay_cached_wunderground(city, cached_entry.get("payload") or {})
     return await run_in_threadpool(legacy_routes._refresh_city_summary_cache, city, False)