Delhi woke up to intense weather conditions on Monday, May 4, as heavy rain and strong winds swept across the city. The India Meteorological Department has placed several parts of the national capital under a red alert, warning of severe thunderstorms, lightning and hailstorms through the day.
Late on Sunday, the weather office upgraded alerts across multiple districts, signalling a high risk of disruption. Several areas remain on orange alert, indicating the need for caution and preparedness.
According to the IMD, a red alert has been issued for Outer North, Northwest, West, Southwest, parts of North, Central, Northeast Delhi and Shahdara. Meanwhile, South Delhi, Southeast Delhi and the remaining parts of North Delhi fall under orange alert.
The department has warned of severe thunderstorms across Delhi-NCR, with lightning, dust storms and moderate rainfall likely in several areas. Wind speeds could reach up to 80 km per hour in isolated pockets.
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The IMD has outlined multiple risks linked to the ongoing weather system. Large branches may snap, and weaker trees could be uprooted. Lightning strikes remain a key concern, especially near tall trees and electric poles.
Authorities also flagged risks to infrastructure and daily life. "Damage to kutcha houses, huts and weak structures, partial collapse of boundary walls, difficult driving conditions and possible road accidents are also likely. Vehicles may also be damaged due to falling branches or debris," the department said.
Power disruptions and interruptions to municipal services are also possible during this period.
Storm activity across North India
The unstable weather is not limited to Delhi. Jammu and Kashmir is likely to see thunderstorms and rainfall between May 3 and 5, while Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to face similar conditions for a longer duration.
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh may experience thundersqualls with gusty winds between May 4 and 5, along with chances of hailstorms.
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East, Northeast and Central India on alert
Eastern states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand, are expected to witness thunderstorms, gusty winds and isolated hailstorms over the next few days. In the northeast, states such as Assam and Meghalaya may see continued rainfall and lightning activity through the week.
Central India, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, is also likely to experience thunderstorms and strong winds, with occasional hailstorm warnings in place.
South India sees heavy rain spell
Southern states are bracing for persistent rainfall. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are expected to receive heavy showers, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds in some areas.
The ongoing weather system is expected to bring down daytime temperatures across northwest India by up to 5C in the coming days. However, a gradual rise is likely later in the week as conditions begin to stabilise.
