Delhi and neighboring areas woke up to heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday morning, triggering waterlogging in parts of the capital and prompting a red alert from the India Meteorological Department as downpours disrupted early routines.
The change in weather swept across the national capital region on October 12, 2026, bringing cooler conditions and overcast skies following a late-night downpour. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for all 11 districts of Delhi across all 11 districts of the national capital until 9 am on Monday, citing the risk of lightning, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall alongside gusty winds reaching around 60 kilometers per hour. Surrounding satellite cities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh faced an orange alert during the same window.
The agency also detailed warning levels indicating that lightning and storms with winds of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour were very likely. The national capital’s red warning specifically covered Central Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, North Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, Shahadra, South Delhi, South East Delhi, South West Delhi, and West Delhi.
Waterlogging and Travel Disruptions Across Delhi-NCR
The early morning tempest caused immediate difficulties on local roads, with the heavy downpour triggering waterlogging in several areas. Accumulating water affected traffic flow, notably around the Jhandewalan Temple area near Karol Bagh in Central New Delhi. Commuters faced localized water accumulation and minor traffic disruptions as streets filled during the morning rush. Visuals from around the capital captured wet conditions in places such as Rajokri, while residents in Palam, Najafgarh, Dwarka, and Ayanagar experienced the localized impact of the storms.
“Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstrom likely over Delhi-NCR during the next 2-3 hours.”
India Meteorological Department, via NDTV and The Times of India
Authorities advised residents to check real-time traffic conditions before setting out, follow official advisories, and avoid low-lying corridors or stretches prone to water collection. Pedestrians and drivers were similarly warned against seeking shelter under trees or weak structures due to the high-speed winds and lightning threat. Unfixed objects on balconies and rooftops were required to be tied down as wind gusts threatened outdoor safety.
Delhi Temperatures Drop as Orange Alerts Hit Regional Cities
Maximum temperatures across Delhi dropped by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius over the preceding 24 hours, settling between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures held between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius. Beyond the capital, the weather system pounded satellite cities under an orange alert, including Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rohtak, and Sonipat in Haryana, alongside Amroha, Baghpat, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, and Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh.
The active weather systems spanned from October 11 through October 16 across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department also noted that similar weather conditions extended to other parts of the country, bringing thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds to regions including Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Rajasthan. Additional forecasts highlighted isolated to scattered rainfall on Monday across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Puducherry, Kerala, and Lakshadweep.
Southern and eastern regions also faced active weather updates, with the meteorological office forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds over Keralam, Mahe, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Hot and humid weather conditions were simultaneously anticipated at isolated places over Coastal Karnataka, Konkan, and Goa.
Rain Ends as Delhi Temperatures Climb over Six Days
Despite the sharp Monday morning downpour, the wet spell is not expected to persist through the week. The weather office forecast partly cloudy skies and no rainfall in Delhi over the next six days, with maximum temperatures anticipated to climb back between 31 and 35 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures hover between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius. Subsequent daily projections placed maximum temperatures at 32 to 34 degrees Celsius with minimums at 23 to 25 degrees Celsius for October 13, and maximums rising to 33 to 35 degrees Celsius for October 14. For October 15, maximum temperatures are anticipated to range between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius alongside minimums of 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, while October 16 and 17 are projected to see maximums of 32 to 34 degrees Celsius and minimums of 22 to 24 degrees Celsius.
The localized storms coincide with a major seasonal shift across the subcontinent. The southwest monsoon is in its final stage of retreat, with complete withdrawal expected around October 15 as easterly or north-easterly winds establish themselves over the eastern coast to a depth of about 5,000 feet. At the same time, western disturbances are bringing rain to parts of North India, and the northeast monsoon is preparing to establish itself across the southern peninsula for the October-to-December period, which accounts for roughly 48 percent of annual rainfall in Tamil Nadu.
