Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning lashed Delhi and its adjoining areas on Tuesday, March 31, disrupting normal life but also bringing relief from rising temperatures. Delhi and some parts of NCR also witnessed rainfall on Monday evening, March 30, bringing relief to a rather warm and humid afternoon.
According to reports, rain and hailstorm also lashed several places in Haryana and Punjab.
Earlier in the day, the meteorological department had issued an orange warning, expecting lightning and thunderstorms in many parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted gusty winds of 40-50 km/h, with occasional gusts of up to 60 km/h.
An orange warning means residents should be prepared for potentially disruptive weather conditions. Hailstorm may also occur in isolated areas of the NCR region.
The Meteorological Department had earlier said that the prevailing surface wind is expected to be from the south-west. Speeds of up to 15 km/h are expected in the afternoon. It said that during the evening and night the wind speed from the southeast will gradually decrease to below 10 km/h.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 33 degrees Celsius.
Why Delhi-NCR, other northern states witnessing rains in March?
Several states in North India are witnessing rains due to the Western Disturbance. While some northern states witnessed rains, parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh reported snowfall.
According to PTI, experts attributed the conditions to a western disturbance and an associated cyclonic circulation over northwest Rajasthan that led to rains over parts of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.
IMD predicts above normal rainfall for April
Meanwhile, in its monthly forecast, the meteorological department has predicted above normal rainfall in most parts of the country, except the North East region.
The Meteorological Department has also predicted above-normal number of heat days in East, Central and North-West India between April and June 2026.
“Above-normal number of hot days likely over parts of east, central and northwest India and southeast peninsula from April to June. Above-normal rainfall likely over most parts of the country except northeast India in April. Below-normal rainfall expected in many parts of northeast India,” the IMD said.
It said, “During the hot season (April-May-June), above normal minimum temperatures are likely in most parts of the country except some areas of Maharashtra and Telangana where normal to below normal minimum temperatures are likely.”
