Weather Today: A thick layer of dust and heavy cloud cover blanketed the national capital on Friday morning, signaling a shift in weather patterns across Northern and Northeast India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a stretch of rain and thunderstorms for the region over the coming days as a series of weather disturbances move through.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius, a notable 3.6 degrees above the seasonal average. Forecasters expect the mercury to climb to a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius today. Despite the arrival of wind and clouds, the city’s air quality remains a concern; the Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 221 at 9 a.m., placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category.
Regional Rainfall and Snowfall Outlook
The weather system is expected to impact several northern states through early next week.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Light to moderate rain, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, is predicted to persist through April 6.
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh: West Rajasthan is braced for isolated thunderstorms through April 4, while West Uttar Pradesh is likely to see scattered showers today, April 3.
A secondary weather system is slated to arrive between April 7 and April 8. This “fresh spell” is expected to bring a mix of rain and snowfall to high-altitude regions including Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. During this same window, the plains of Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Rajasthan are likely to experience a resurgence of thunderstorms and light rainfall.
Heavy Precipitation in the Northeast
The Northeast is also bracing for significant weather activity. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura are all under a forecast for thunderstorms and lightning through April 6.
Meteorologists have issued heavy rain warnings for Arunachal Pradesh specifically for April 2 and the period between April 6 and April 8. Similar heavy downpours are anticipated in Assam and Meghalaya on April 5 and April 6.
Long-range Forecast: Mid-April Trends
Looking further ahead to the period of April 9–15, the IMD indicates that active western disturbances will continue to influence the Western Himalayan Region and its adjacent plains, likely resulting in several days of moderate rainfall. Heavy rain remains a threat for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during this timeframe.
Authorities have advised residents to monitor official weather warnings closely. During active thunderstorms, the public is encouraged to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel to mitigate risks associated with lightning and high winds.
