Delhi on ‘flash flood risk’ as national capital braces for heavy rain; IMD issues thunderstorm alert for multiple states

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a weather alert for 4 May, warning against thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorm over Northwest, Central and East India.

IMD in a post on X stated, “Isolated to scattered thunderstorms ⛈️, lightning ⚡, gusty winds (40–60 kmph) and hailstorm 🌨️ likely over Northwest, Central & East India during 04–05 May 2026.”

At the same time, Delhi is on flash flood risk as heavy rains are expected in the national capital. According to Google, flooding may occur over the next 24 hours.

Along with this advisory it issued a set of guidelines, urging citizens to take precautionary measures to stay safe during extreme weather conditions.

Several states are on IMD's orange alert for heavy rainfall, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Sikkim.

IMD in its latest press release said, “Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (speed reaching 30-50 kmph) likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi on 05th & 06th and on 10th and West Uttar Pradesh on 05th & 06th; East Uttar Pradesh on 06th & 07th ; isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (speed reaching 30-40 kmph) likely over west Rajasthan during 04th -07th and East Rajasthan during 04th -08th May.”

The weather bulletin further forecasted thundersquall and hailstorm activity in Delhi today.

Residents of Delhi can expect “partly cloudy sky to generally cloudy sky towards afternoon.” The Met Department predicted a spell of very light to light rain, thunderstorm, lightning and occasional strong surface winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph towards evening and night. The maximum temperature is expected to be -5.1°C to less markedly below normal in the range of 30°C to 32°C. IMD predicted fall in maximum temperatures by 3-5°C during next 24 hours and rise by 5-7°C thereafter.