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Severe weather lashed the national capital on Friday as nearly 77 mm of rain fell overnight, accompanied by wind gusts reaching up to 80 km/h. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised a severe weather alert in the early hours as a strong system moved through the region, warning of isolated heavy rainfall not just in Delhi, but also in Haryana, Chandigarh, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh.

77 mm of rainfall was recorded at Delhi’s Safdarjung station along with wind speeds reaching 80 km/h around 5 a.m., accompanied by lightning. Lodhi Road observatory recorded 78 mm, while Ridge and Ayanagar reported 59.2 mm and 39.4 mm respectively, with wind speeds between 40–80 km/h. In comparison, neighbouring Gurugram saw a relatively low 17 mm of rainfall. The IMD categorizes daily rainfall between 64.5 mm and 124.4 mm as ‘heavy rainfall.’

This marks the most intense May rainfall in Delhi since May 20, 2021, when 119.3 mm was recorded due to Cyclone Tauktae, which had made landfall on the Gujarat coast.

Meanwhile, the intense thunderstorm brought much-needed relief from the heat, causing temperatures to plummet by 7–10°C. At Lodhi Road, the temperature dropped from 28.2°C to 20.7°C by 5:30 a.m., while Safdarjung recorded a dip to 18.5°C and Palam saw a fall of 8.2°C to 17.2°C. Earlier in the week, Delhi had recorded highs of 36–38°C.

What caused the sudden weather shift? What’s next?

According to the IMD, the abrupt change was driven by high moisture levels and converging winds from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, interacting with favorable atmospheric conditions in the lower and mid-troposphere. A combination of strong wind patterns—including an upper-air cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and another over northeast Rajasthan and northwest Madhya Pradesh—along with southeasterly winds at lower levels (up to 50 km/h), contributed to the development of the storm over Delhi.

Earlier in the week, the IMD had forecast a western disturbance approaching the western Himalayan region, predicting rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across northern states from May 1 to 5. The warnings were later extended to May 7, with widespread rain expected over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The system also brought fresh snowfall to higher elevations in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, is expected to continue across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Sikkim until May 6. Intense hailstorms and heavy rainfall are likely in parts of Odisha.

In Rajasthan, where temperatures had soared to 46.8°C in areas like Barmer, intense dust storms are expected from Friday onward. The IMD forecasts a drop in temperatures by 3–5°C across the region over the next five days.

Excess rainfall and thunderstorms likely in May: IMD

Thunderstorms are a common feature of the Indian summer, especially during periods of intense heat when rising warm, moist air destabilizes the atmosphere. When additional moisture from prevailing weather systems is present, these storms often bring heavy rain.

In northwestern India, thunderstorm activity typically peaks in May, sometimes resulting in significant damage due to their intensity.

The IMD's latest May forecast indicates above-normal rainfall for the month, with recurring spells of rain and thunderstorms expected to disrupt potential heatwaves. Although 1–3 days of heatwave conditions are typical during May, this year could see up to 4 additional days in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

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