Rain and Thunderstorms Hit Delhi-NCR, Orange Alert Issued as Temperatures Dip

Large parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms on Friday morning, bringing a sudden change in weather conditions and intensifying the winter chill. The showers, which affected areas including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, are expected to continue intermittently through the day, with authorities warning of more spells in the coming hours.

The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Delhi-NCR, as well as adjoining regions of Punjab and Haryana, cautioning residents about thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. According to the weather agency, an active western disturbance is currently influencing northern India, resulting in cloudy skies, rainfall, and a sharp drop in temperatures.

The IMD said further spells of rain are likely during the afternoon, with wind speeds expected to reach 30–40 kmph in some areas. Residents have been advised to remain cautious, especially during thunderstorms, as visibility and road conditions may deteriorate temporarily.

The sudden change in weather follows an unusually warm day on Thursday, when Delhi recorded its highest January temperature in seven years, with the mercury climbing to 27.1 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum temperature is now expected to drop sharply to around 19 degrees Celsius on Friday, while the minimum temperature is likely to hover near 12 degrees Celsius, restoring typical winter conditions in the capital.

Despite the rainfall, air quality in Delhi showed only marginal improvement and continued to remain a concern. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 302, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. In neighbouring areas, Noida recorded an AQI of 293, while Gurugram registered 272, both falling in the ‘poor’ category.

Forecasts from the Air Quality and Weather Forecasting System indicate that air quality across Delhi-NCR is likely to remain ‘moderate’ on January 23 and 24 before deteriorating to the ‘poor’ category by January 25. In response to the slight improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management revoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan across the region. However, restrictions under Stages I and II will continue to remain in force.

The impact of the western disturbance is being felt across other parts of north India as well. Rain lashed parts of Jammu city earlier, intensifying cold wave conditions in the region. The weather department has also predicted widespread rain and snowfall in Uttarakhand after a prolonged dry spell, issuing an orange alert for several districts.

According to IMD forecasts, districts such as Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli are likely to receive heavy rain and snowfall, while Bageshwar and Pithoragarh may also experience similar conditions. A yellow alert has been issued for the remaining districts due to the possibility of hailstorms and strong winds. Snowfall has also intensified in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

The fresh spell of precipitation is expected to provide relief from dry weather conditions across the hills and could help reduce the risk of forest fires in vulnerable areas. Authorities across north India remain on alert as the weather system continues to impact large parts of the region.