Weather today: Delhi-NCR skies turn stormy as rain hits city; Bengal on IMD's orange alert on Phase 2 polling day

Weather today: Delhi residents woke up to a pleasant morning after days of sweltering heat, as strong winds and rain pounded the city today. This dramatic change in weather follows days of heatwave when the mercury soared as high as 44°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for the city, forecasting more rain during the day.

Bringing relief in the national capital from the much-needed intense heat, it is likely that the city will receive “one or two spells of very light to light rain accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning and strong surface winds speed reaching 20-30 kmph gusting to 40 kmph during afternoon to evening.”

Visuals from Kushak Road show strong winds and rain showers bringing a pleasant change in Delhi's weather.

The city had been grappling with intense heat wave conditions for the past days but the latest weather forecast suggests that there will be a “fall by 3-4°C in maximum temperatures during next 3 days and rise by about 2-3°C thereafter. Maximum temperatures are likely to be below normal to normal during 29th April to 4nd May 2026.”

IMD issued a nowcast rainfall warning, upgrading the weather warning to an orange alert. “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning (30-40 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur at entire Delhi and NCR.”

In the neighbouring regions, similar weather conditions are likely. “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning (30-40 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur at Sonipat, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Charkhi Dadri, Mattanhail, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Kosali, Mahendargarh, Sohana, Rewari, Palwal, Narnaul, Bawal, Nuh, Aurangabad, Hodal (Haryana) Baraut, Bagpat, Meerut, Khekra, Modinagar, Pilakhua, Hapur, Gulaoti, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar, Khurja (U.P.) Bhiwari, Tizara, Khairthal, Kotputli, Alwar, Viratnagar (Rajasthan) . Light rainfall is very likely to occur at Rajaund, Assandh, Safidon, Barwala, Jind, Panipat, Hissar, Gohana, Gannaur, Hansi, Siwani, Meham, Tosham, Bhiwani, Loharu (Haryana) Shamli, Kandhla, Khatauli, Sakoti Tanda, Hastinapur, Chandpur, Daurala, Kithor, Amroha, Moradabad, Garhmukteshwar, Rampur, Siyana (U.P.) during next 2 hours,” IMD said.

On Wednesday, the maximum temperature is expected to be -1.6°C to -3.0°C below normal and settle around 37°C to 39°C. The minimum temperature will most likely be 3.1°C to 5.0°C above normal and is expected to be in the range of 26°C to 28°C at most places over Delhi.

For other regions of Northwest India, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the IMD has forecast hailstorm activity on 29 April.

Rajasthan might witness a dust storm today. Meanwhile, residents of Punjab and Haryana can brace for a thundersquall. The weather agency has forecast a gradual fall in maximum temperatures across Northwest India by 2-4°C, likely till 30 April.

West Bengal weather today

IMD issued an orange alert for Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, West Midnapore, Bankura and East Bardhaman districts, forecasting “thunderstorm with gusty wind (50-60 kmph) and lightning” and rainfall on the Phase 2 polling day today, 29 April.

A yellow alert is in place for other districts. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and northeast India on many days of the week, IMD said.

IMD predicted a gradual fall in maximum temperatures across East India by 2-4°C, likely till 29 April. The weather office also issued a warning for fishermen, advising them against venturing out into the sea along and off the West Bengal and North Odisha coasts.