IMD issues rain and thunderstorm alerts for Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued widespread weather alerts for rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds and related disruptions affecting major urban centres including Delhi , Chennai and Hyderabad , as well as several other states, as western disturbances and atmospheric systems continue to influence weather across the country.

In the north‑west plains , including Delhi and its surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) , the IMD has maintained a yellow alert for intermittent showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds expected through the first week of April. The forecast predicts light rain and drizzle , generally cloudy skies and the possibility of dust storms preceding thunderstorms , especially in parts of Haryana and Rajasthan. Maximum temperatures are likely to stay below seasonal averages , offering a cooler start to April compared with recent warmer days.

Across the Delhi‑NCR belt , cities including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad may experience rainy spells accompanied by strong winds and lightning , potentially affecting travel and outdoor plans, while AQI remains in the moderate category , indicating that pollution levels are not at hazardous levels despite humidity and weather changes.

In Hyderabad , the IMD has forecast possible thundershowers and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h after brief rain was already observed in several localities. The alert covers multiple neighbourhoods and surrounding Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation zones, with advisories in place for rapidly changing weather and sudden showers later in the day.

Further south, Chennai and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu have been included in rain and thunderstorm alerts, with forecasts indicating intermittent rainfall and thunderstorm clusters that could bring local disruptions. This comes amid an extended pattern of unsettled weather across the southern peninsula.

Weather experts say that ongoing western disturbances , combined with local moisture influx, are preventing a fast buildup of heat and are suppressing any major heatwave formation in northern and central India for now, keeping temperatures near or below normal for late March and early April.

In addition to rain and thunderstorms, the IMD has highlighted heavy winds up to 60-80 km/h in isolated pockets, raising concerns about dust storm activity and temporary travel disruption . Residents and travellers are advised to stay updated with frequent forecast bulletins, exercise caution during thunderstorms and follow local alerts on lightning and strong winds.