IMD Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Across Delhi-NCR Region
Weather department warns of lightning, 50 km/h winds and waterlogging in Delhi, Gurugram and neighboring districts over next two hours.
The India Meteorological Department has sounded a red alert for Delhi-NCR and parts of three states. Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel during the intense spell.
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The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert at 6:30 this morning warning of intense weather across the capital region. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour is expected to lash Delhi and the entire National Capital Region over the next two hours. Active monsoon conditions driving the system mean the spell could bring sudden downpours and dangerous lightning strikes.
Rain has already begun in several parts of the city including ITO and Janakpuri. Commuters reported sudden temperature drops and strong gusts bending tree branches. The alert extends well beyond Delhi borders. In Haryana, districts including Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Rohtak, Hisar, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Rewari, Palwal, Nuh and Mahendragarh lie in the path. Uttar Pradesh areas such as Saharanpur, Shamli, Baghpat, Baraut, Khekra, Hastinapur, Najibabad and Chandpur are also covered. Rajasthan’s Alwar, Bhiwadi, Tijara, Kotputli, Pilani, Viratnagar, Rajgarh and Laxmangarh round out the warning zone.
Authorities have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel. Open fields, isolated trees and electricity poles pose lightning risks. Drivers should reduce speed and steer clear of waterlogged stretches. Power supply disruptions are likely as winds snap branches and bring down hoardings. The municipal corporations have deployed teams to monitor low-lying areas prone to flooding.
Meteorologists say the monsoon is finally gaining momentum across north India after a sluggish start. Intermittent spells of rain and thunder are forecast to continue for the next several days. Daytime temperatures should drop noticeably as cloud cover thickens. This pattern is unusual for early July when the region typically sees a break between monsoon surges.
Residents in Gurugram and Faridabad should prepare for possible traffic snarls on the expressway and arterial roads. The next IMD update is due by mid-morning. For now, the advice remains simple: stay inside if you can.
