Delhi on alert for rain and thunderstorms over two days as IMD warns of 70 km/h winds

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi on Friday. Warning of rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds that could reach speeds of up to 70 km/h. The alert level was initially yellow but was upgraded to orange—the second-highest warning category—signaling the potential for significant disruption or damage.

“Residents should stay alert and be prepared for possibly severe weather,” the IMD said in a statement.

Although no warning is in place for Thursday morning, the IMD is predicting light to moderate rain. “There could be some light showers today. On Thursday, similar rain is expected, and the intensity is likely to increase by Friday,” said an IMD official.

While Delhi faces the orange alert, nearby cities like Gurgaon and Faridabad remain unaffected by any warnings. Ghaziabad and Noida may see light rain and thunderstorms on Friday, but the IMD has not issued a colour-coded alert for those areas.

Delhi has already seen record-breaking rainfall this May—186.4 mm so far, making it the wettest May on record. The previous high was 165 mm in 2008, while the average for the month is only 30.7 mm.

Earlier this week, light showers were reported in parts of the city on Monday. On Sunday, a heavy downpour and thunderstorm disrupted daily life—causing flight delays, waterlogging, power outages, and even uprooting trees. These incidents have raised questions about Delhi's readiness for the monsoon season.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is advancing faster than usual this year. While it normally reaches Delhi by June 27, the IMD has not yet announced an expected arrival date for the capital. “We’re keeping a close watch,” an IMD official said.

The monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, a week ahead of schedule, and reached Mumbai by May 26—also earlier than the typical June 11 onset.

So far in May, Delhi and the surrounding NCR region have been hit by five major storms, which have led to at least 12 fatalities caused by house collapses, electrocution, and falling trees.