Intense dust storms were followed by rain in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, bringing relief from the punishing heat wave that pushed temperatures to as high as 44.5 degrees Celsius this week.
Dark clouds hovered over the region as storms and rain began in the early hours as a result of western disturbances, which triggered atmospheric activity that pulled down temperatures with an hour. This comes at a time Delhi has been under a ‘Yellow alert’ for heatwaves
The maximum temperature, which was expected to hit 41 degrees Celsius, is now likely to settle closer to 38 degrees Celsius following the showers.
Glimpses of Rain, Thunder, Lightning and Winds over Delhi.
Source: Video Taken from Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/lTee7hLRso
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 29, 2026
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Akhil Srivastava told ANI that thunderstorm activity is expected in Punjab and Haryana over the coming days, which may lead to a drop in temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celsius. He added that an orange alert for thunderstorms has been issued for Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand, while heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in northeastern India over the next week.
“In the northern region, a heatwave has been prevailing for the past 15 days. However, due to a western disturbance centred around 66 degrees East longitude, thunderstorm activity is expected in the Western Himalayas and adjoining plains. Alerts have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for thunderstorms and hailstorms. Punjab and Haryana may witness thunderstorms with wind speeds of up to 60 km/h, leading to a drop in maximum temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celsius over the next three days,” Srivastava said.
VIDEO | Delhi: Weather turns pleasant as the capital city witnesses rain, thunderstorm bringing relief from days of sweltering heat. Morning visuals from India Gate, Kartavya Path areas.#DelhiRain #WeatherUpdate
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Mby1aPzSj7
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 29, 2026
According to the Regional Weather Forecast Centre (RWFC) in New Delhi, light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of around 30-40 kmph was very likely across Delhi and surrounding areas during the morning hours. “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by light thunderstorm and lightning (30-40 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur in the entire Delhi and NCR. Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by 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),” it was predicted.
Further, RWFC stated that light rainfall is very likely to occur at Rajaund, Assandh, Safidon, Barwala, Jind, Panipat, Hissar, Gohana, Gannaur, Hansi, Siwani, Meham, Tosham, Bhiwani, Loharu (Haryana), and Shamli.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated that Delhi’s air quality stood at an AQI level of 260, placing it in the “poor” category.