Delhi-NCR humid heat to ease as IMD forecasts monsoon rain across North India
Synopsis
Delhi's 'feels-like' temperature hit 44.1°C even as the IMD upgraded its alert to orange — yet the city saw barely a drop of rain. With the southwest monsoon now pushing toward the capital and widespread showers forecast from 29 June, the next few days will determine whether relief finally arrives or the humid misery stretches further into July.
Key Takeaways
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Delhi-NCR and North India from 25 June to 1 July .
Delhi's 'feels-like' temperature reached 44.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday despite an orange alert; actual temperature was 38 degrees Celsius .
Only Ayanagar ( 9.2 mm ) and Pitampura ( 1 mm ) recorded rainfall by 5:30 pm Thursday ; Safdarjung recorded none.
Himachal Pradesh faces a prolonged wet spell with heavy rain forecast from 26 to 30 June ; Punjab expects isolated heavy showers on 27–28 June .
A marginal temperature drop is expected from Monday, with Delhi's maximum likely between 35°C and 37°C by 1 July .
The southwest monsoon is advancing toward Delhi , Punjab , Haryana , and Uttar Pradesh , with widespread rainfall expected by 29–30 June .
Delhi-NCR residents endured oppressive humidity on Friday, 26 June, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across North India over the coming week, with the southwest monsoon advancing steadily toward the region.
IMD Alerts and Rain Forecast
The IMD has issued rain alerts covering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan between 25 June and 1 July. Western Uttar Pradesh — including Noida and Ghaziabad — is under alert for 26 June and again from 29 June to 1 July. Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal) is expected to receive light to moderate rainfall from 26 June to 29 June.
Rain alerts have also been issued for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir during the last week of June. Himachal Pradesh is forecast to witness a prolonged wet spell with heavy rainfall from 26 June to 30 June, while Punjab is expected to see isolated heavy showers on 27 and 28 June.
Delhi's Heat Despite Alerts
Despite the IMD upgrading its alert from yellow to orange on Thursday morning, Delhi saw only scattered rainfall. The city's 'feels-like' temperature touched 44.1 degrees Celsius at 5:30 pm on Thursday, even as the actual recorded temperature stood at 38 degrees Celsius. The day's maximum was logged at 38.8 degrees Celsius, notwithstanding rainfall and strong winds on Wednesday.
Rainfall remained limited on Thursday, with only two IMD observatories recording precipitation by 5:30 pm. Ayanagar received 9.2 mm of rainfall, while Pitampura recorded 1 mm. Safdarjung, the city's primary weather station, recorded no rainfall during that period.
What the Coming Days Look Like
The IMD has forecast the maximum temperature to remain between 39 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius through the end of the week. A marginal drop is expected from Monday, with the maximum likely to settle between 35 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius by 1 July. Light rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds are predicted over the next six days, with Sunday expected to remain relatively dry.
Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are forecast to experience widespread rainfall with isolated heavy showers on 29 and 30 June. Rainfall activity across Uttar Pradesh is likely to intensify from 27 June, with isolated heavy rain predicted through 1 July. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are expected to see intermittent rainfall, with isolated heavy showers on 25 and 26 June.
Monsoon Advance and Broader Impact
The southwest monsoon is progressing toward Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, raising expectations of sustained relief from the prevailing heat. The weather system is expected to strengthen further across the country over the next seven days, bringing fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across Northwest India. Notably, this comes as large parts of the region have already endured an extended period of above-normal heat and humidity heading into late June.
Point of View
Now routinely hitting 44°C, has become the more honest measure of public health risk than the official maximum. The monsoon's advance toward Delhi is on schedule, but the capital's urban heat island means even widespread rainfall will deliver uneven relief. What deserves more attention is the public health dimension: sustained heat-humidity combinations at these levels carry serious risk for outdoor workers and the elderly, and that story rarely gets the same headline space as the rain forecast.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will it rain in Delhi-NCR according to the IMD?
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across Delhi-NCR between 25 June and 1 July 2025. Widespread rainfall with isolated heavy showers is expected specifically on 29 and 30 June.
Why is Delhi's 'feels-like' temperature so much higher than the actual temperature?
The 'feels-like' or apparent temperature factors in humidity, which significantly amplifies heat perception. On Thursday, Delhi's actual temperature was 38°C, but high humidity pushed the feels-like reading to 44.1°C by 5:30 pm, according to the IMD.
Which states in North India are under IMD rain alerts this week?
Rain alerts have been issued for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir for the period between 25 June and 1 July. Himachal Pradesh faces the longest wet spell, with heavy rain forecast from 26 to 30 June.
When is the southwest monsoon expected to reach Delhi?
The southwest monsoon is currently advancing toward Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, according to the IMD. Widespread rainfall activity is forecast to pick up significantly from 27 June onwards, with the monsoon expected to strengthen further over the next seven days.
Will temperatures in Delhi drop soon?
The IMD expects maximum temperatures to remain between 39°C and 41°C through the end of the week. A marginal drop is forecast from Monday, with the maximum likely to settle between 35°C and 37°C by 1 July as monsoon rainfall increases.
