Delhi-NCR is set for a prolonged wet spell through Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting intermittent rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across the national capital region. The unsettled weather is expected to keep daytime temperatures well below the seasonal average during the opening week of June, offering residents an unusually cool start to summer.

What the IMD forecast says

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Thursday and Friday, warning of light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and squally winds. Wind speeds are likely to touch 40-50 kmph, with occasional gusts reaching 60 kmph. While no formal alert has been issued for Saturday, weather officials expect broadly similar conditions to persist.

Temperatures stay below the 40-degree mark

The showers are likely to keep the mercury from crossing 40 degrees Celsius for at least the next six days. Daytime highs are forecast in the 36-39 degrees Celsius band — a notable departure from the historical norm, which sees average maximums hover around 40 degrees Celsius during the first nine days of June.

The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's reference station, recorded a maximum of 39.1 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27.4 degrees Celsius — slightly below and marginally above the seasonal norms respectively. Meteorologists have attributed the activity to routine pre-monsoon dynamics over northern India.

Southwest monsoon to hit Kerala on Thursday

The wider weather story is the southwest monsoon, which is set to make landfall over Kerala on Thursday, formally opening India's four-month rainy season. The IMD has flagged widespread rainfall over Kerala and Coastal Karnataka, with heavy showers and thunderstorms expected in the days ahead.

Weather systems active over the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions are creating favourable conditions for rain across large swathes of southern, eastern, northeastern and northwestern India. The monsoon's arrival is a key meteorological milestone, underpinning agriculture, replenishing reservoirs and shaping rural economic activity.

Why it matters for Delhi-NCR

As southern states receive the season's first substantial rains, northern regions including Delhi-NCR are expected to benefit from rising moisture and a steady run of pre-monsoon showers. The cooler-than-usual spell offers a brief reprieve from the punishing heatwaves that have gripped the capital in recent summers. Residents have been advised to stay indoors during thunderstorm activity and avoid open spaces when lightning is reported.