Heavy rainfall lashed Delhi on Monday (May 4) as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for severe thunderstorms and hail in large parts of the national capital, with conditions expected to remain potentially disruptive throughout the day.
The warning, issued late Sunday night, placed several districts in Delhi under the department’s most severe alert level, while others were assigned an orange alert, signaling the need for heightened preparedness.
Which parts of Delhi are under red and orange alert?
The IMD confirmed that the red alert is in place for outer North Delhi, North West Delhi, West Delhi, South West Delhi, parts of North Delhi, Central Delhi, North East Delhi and Shahdara. South Delhi, South East Delhi and remaining parts of North Delhi have been put on orange alert. Isolated thunderstorm activity is also expected at various places over the greater Delhi-NCR region.
According to the Met Office, severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, dust storms and light rainfall are very likely to occur in the city, with gusty winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour in some areas.
What damage can a storm cause? The IMD lists the likely impacts
The Met Office has released a detailed list of potential impacts associated with a storm system moving over the capital. Large tree branches are likely to break, and weak or old trees may be completely uprooted. Lightning strikes pose a particular risk in vulnerable locations such as tall trees and power poles, the IMD warned.
In addition, authorities warned of a broader scope of possible breaches. “Damage to kutcha houses, huts and weak structures, partial collapse of boundary walls, difficult driving conditions and possible road accidents are also likely. Damage to vehicles may also be caused by falling branches or debris,” the department said.
Utility services, including electricity supplies, could also be disrupted as a result of the storm.
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Multi-day storm warning in effect
North and northwest India is bracing for a few days of unsettled weather as the IMD forecast scattered light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across the region. Jammu and Kashmir can expect these conditions from May 3 to 5, while Himachal Pradesh faces disturbances from May 3 to 7 and Uttarakhand from May 3 to 8, with wind speeds likely to reach 30 to 50 kilometers per hour in these areas.
Isolated hail was specifically indicated for Jammu and Kashmir on 3 and 4 May and for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand between 3 and 5 May. Additionally, isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Uttarakhand on May 4.
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi: Thunderstorms and hail on May 4 and 5
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are forecast to experience scattered to fairly widespread showers with thunder and lightning on May 3 and 6. Worse conditions in the form of thunderstorms with wind speeds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour are expected over Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh on May 4 and 5.
Isolated hail storms are expected across this band from May 3-5, making the coming days particularly disruptive for residents across the region.
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan: Thunderstorm, dust and hail during the week
Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thundershowers, lightning and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour are forecast over Uttar Pradesh from May 3 to 7. A hail warning is in effect for the state on May 3 and 4.
Rajasthan faces a particularly active few days. Rain and thunderstorm activity is expected on May 3 and again from May 5-7. A storm with winds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour is forecast specifically for May 4, along with a dust storm warning for the same date.
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and northeastern states: heavy rain and increased risk of lightning
In the northeastern states, the IMD has forecast fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds for most of the week. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya are likely to bear the brunt of this activity on May 3 and 4, while Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura face similar conditions from May 3 to 5.
The lightning warning has been extended further for a week for these states, with Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh remaining under threat from 5 to 7 May and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on 6 May. Isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya from 3rd to 5th May and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on 3rd and 4th May.
In addition, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and the wider northeastern region can expect fairly widespread rainfall on May 4 and 5 with thunderstorms and gusty winds of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour.
West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand: Thunderstorms and hail in eastern India
East India is in for a similarly active period of weather. West Bengal and Sikkim can expect fairly widespread to widespread thunderstorm activity with gusty winds on May 6 and 7. Bihar and Odisha are forecast for isolated to scattered rains with thundershowers from May 6 to 9, while Jharkhand faces disturbances on May 3, 6 and 7.
Thunderstorms with winds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, gusting up to 70 kilometers per hour, are expected over West Bengal and Sikkim, Bihar and Odisha on May 3-5 and Jharkhand on May 4-5.
Isolated heavy rainfall is forecast over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from 3 to 5 May and over Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar on 4 May. Isolated hailstorm is likely over Bihar on 3rd and 4th May, Jharkhand on 4th May and Odisha on 4th and 5th May.
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha: Thunderstorms and hailstorms in central India
In central India, the IMD has forecast isolated light to moderate rainfall with thundershowers, lightning and gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour in the next five days. Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha face the threat of thunderstorms with winds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, gusting up to 70 kilometers per hour from May 3 to 5. Madhya Pradesh faces similar thunderstorms on May 3 and 4. Isolated hail was reported over the wider central India region on 4 May.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Konkan: Heavy rain and humid conditions in South India
South peninsular India presents a mixed picture this week. Isolated to scattered thundershowers, lightning and gusty winds of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour are forecast over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, South Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and Kerala and Mahe during the week. Thunderstorms are specifically expected over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on May 3 and 4 with wind gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour.
Heavy rainfall is forecast to persist over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and Kerala and Mahe for the next seven days. South interior Karnataka can expect heavy rain on May 5 and again between May 7 and 9, while coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam face heavy rain on May 5 and 6.
Hot and humid weather is very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on 3rd and 4th May and over Konkan and Goa from 5th to 7th May.
Temperature outlook: Sharp drops in NW India, gradual rise expected in mid-May
The storm activity sweeping across North and North West India is expected to bring a noticeable and welcome drop in daytime temperatures. Maximum temperatures over the western Himalayan region are forecast to gradually decrease by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius by May 5 and then rise sharply by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius between May 6 and 9 after conditions stabilize.
A gradual fall of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius is forecast in the plains of northwest India till May 5, followed by a similar rise of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius between May 6 and 9. Central India cannot expect any significant change in temperature until May 3, after which a gradual drop of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius is likely between May 4 and 6, and broadly stable conditions thereafter.
Maharashtra is forecast to see no significant change in maximum temperatures till May 5, with a gradual increase of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius expected from May 6 to 9. In the remaining parts of the country, no significant temperature change is expected until at least 8 May 2026.
