North India finally got some relief as early morning rain hit Delhi and ended the intense heatwave. Dark clouds, strong winds, and light showers made the weather cooler after days of extreme heat around 45C.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this is just the start. A big weather system is now affecting many northern and eastern states with rain, storms, and strong winds.
Alerts have been issued in 13 states, and people are advised to stay careful. Weather may change quickly in both plains and hilly areas over the next few days. The relief has already started. Early this Wednesday morning, dark clouds covered the sky, strong winds began, and rain hit parts of Delhi, including Kushak Road and the Lutyens’ area, giving people their first real break from the intense heatwave.
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Which states are on high alert?
IMD has issued different weather alerts across several states. A Yellow Alert is in place for Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, while an Orange Alert has been issued for hilly districts of Uttarakhand like Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh.
Heavy rain warnings have been given for Bihar, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Bengal, and Mizoram. In addition, Punjab and Haryana may face strong thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 km/h, so people are advised to stay cautious.
Delhi-NCR sees first break from heatwave
The morning rain is just the beginning. According to Navbharat Times, IMD has issued a Yellow Alert from April 29 to May 1. On April 29, thunderstorms with strong winds up to 60 km/h are expected, along with light to moderate rain through the day. On April 30, temperatures will drop further to around 37C during the day and 26C at night, with more rain and thunder likely. By May 1, the weather will start clearing, and temperatures may rise again to around 40C.
UP, Bihar and Rajasthan brace for storms
In Uttar Pradesh, areas like Lucknow may see patchy clouds and light rain, while both eastern and western parts of the state could experience thunderstorms, as per Navbharat Times.
In Bihar, heavy rain and storm alerts have been issued for major districts such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Purnia, with Patna’s maximum temperature likely to stay around 36C.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan is still facing high heat above 40C in cities like Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaipur, but some places like Ganganagar and Bikaner may get hailstorms. East Rajasthan is expected to remain unstable till early May, and a Yellow Alert has been issued for 11 districts.
Hills on high alert
According to an NBT report, Uttarakhand is experiencing both relief and risk at the same time. In the plains, Dehradun saw clouds replace the harsh sun, along with cool winds and light drizzle, bringing the temperature down to around 34.7C. However, in the hilly areas like Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, and Champawat, strong winds and rain have uprooted trees and blocked roads. In Bageshwar, a mango tree even fell on a house, causing major damage.
Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, districts such as Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, and Una are under storm warnings, with winds reaching up to 60 km/h, and places like Manali may see temperatures drop to around -1C at night.
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Uttarakhand’s Health Department has advised people to stay indoors between 11 AM and 4 PM, avoid unnecessary travel during storms, and move to safe places when the weather worsens. This advice applies to all affected states—when strong winds start, it’s safer to stay at home.
J&K to face strong winds
In Punjab, cities like Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali, and Gurdaspur are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with strong winds that may reach speeds of 60–65 km/h.
In Jammu and Kashmir, light to moderate rain or snowfall is expected along with thunderstorms and winds reaching up to 50 km/h. There is also a chance of isolated hail in some areas, so people are advised to stay alert.
Latest alert in eastern states
In Bengal, areas like Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and other south Bengal districts may face thunderstorms with strong winds of 50–60 km/h till May 3. Heavy rainfall is also likely in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and nearby sub-Himalayan regions.
Precautionary measures in Mizoram?
In Mizoram, nine districts, including Aizawl are on alert, and schools have been closed as a precaution due to the weather situation.
This weather change is giving some relief from the extreme heat, but it also brings new risks. Sudden storms, strong winds, and heavy rain can disturb travel and daily life in many areas. People are advised to follow official updates, avoid going out during peak storm hours, and stay safe. Being prepared is important as the weather can change quickly.
