Delhi Weather Alert: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Rain, Hailstorm & Thunderstorm Tonight

Delhi: Residents of Delhi should prepare for another round of unsettled weather as a narrow storm system approaches the national capital region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for parts of Delhi, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, strong gusty winds, and the possibility of hail as conditions worsen on Sunday evening, April 5, 2026. A yellow alert is in place for other areas of the city.

According to the IMD forecast, Delhi will see a generally cloudy sky during the day with only a low 10 per cent chance of significant rainfall. However, thundery developments or light rain accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are likely towards the evening. Eastern parts of the city, along with Noida and Faridabad, face the highest risk of intense activity from this narrow system moving in from West Uttar Pradesh. Satellite images indicate the densest cloud cover shifting eastward, increasing the chance of late-evening squalls in Noida and Ghaziabad.

The system follows rainfall recorded on Saturday, including 1.9 mm at Palam and 5.8 mm at Ayanagar. Meteorologists note that the current narrow storm may spare major parts of west and north Delhi. Residents in South, Central, and New Delhi are particularly advised to prepare for potential disruption under the orange alert, while those in southwest, west, and northeast Delhi should remain vigilant.

Isolated hailstorms are possible across parts of North India due to the interaction between the western disturbance and warm April air. A broader wet spell with thunderstorms and lightning is expected to persist over central India until April 6, affecting states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

The IMD continues to monitor the situation closely. A fresh western disturbance is anticipated to bring another round of storms to Delhi from Tuesday, April 7, after which temperatures are likely to fluctuate between 18 and 29 degrees Celsius mid-week before rising further into May.