Delhi-NCR light rain, strong winds from Thursday; temperatures to dip
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light rain accompanied by strong winds across several parts of Delhi-NCR from Thursday, 16 October 2026, signalling another weather shift for the national capital just weeks after the monsoon withdrawal. The change is expected to push temperatures further downward in the coming days.
Expected Temperature Range
According to the IMD forecast, the maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to stay between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to range from 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. Following the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, residents across Delhi-NCR have already been experiencing a mild chill during mornings and evenings, though daytime heat has persisted.
On Tuesday, Delhi recorded a below-normal maximum temperature of 32.5 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung observatory — the city's standard weather station — which was 0.7 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature settled at 21.2 degrees Celsius, with relative humidity ranging between 56 and 96 per cent. Residual moisture from rainfall the previous day helped cap the daytime rise in temperatures.
Broader Weather Alert Across North India
The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Western Rajasthan may experience strong winds, thunderstorms, and hailstorms. Higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are also likely to witness snowfall.
Wind speeds in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are forecast to reach 40–50 kmph, with gusts of up to 60 kmph. Lightning has also been flagged as a possibility across these regions. Separately, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh may receive scattered rainfall between 15 and 19 October.
Monsoon Transition and Southern India Rainfall
The southwest monsoon has begun withdrawing from parts of the country, while the northeast monsoon is advancing toward southern India. Several southern states — including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana — are expected to receive continued rainfall over the next few days. The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall across these states between 14 and 19 October.
This seasonal transition typically marks the onset of winter-like mornings in northern India, and with the current forecast, Delhi residents can expect temperatures to ease further through the remainder of October.