Delhi-NCR rain and thunderstorms forecast until June 4, IMD issues yellow alert
Synopsis
Delhi is enjoying one of its coolest early-June spells in years — and the IMD says it is not over yet. With a yellow alert for Tuesday night, winds up to 50 kmph, and temperatures forecast to stay below 40°C until June 6, the capital gets a rare breather even as the southwest monsoon closes in on Kerala.
Key Takeaways
IMD has forecast rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds in Delhi-NCR through June 4 .
A yellow alert has been issued for Tuesday night , with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph expected.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to stay below 40°C until at least June 6 .
On 1 June , Safdarjung observatory recorded a maximum of 36.3°C — the coolest June 1 since 2023 (when it was 32.7°C ).
The southwest monsoon is expected to make its onset over Kerala within two to three days .
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) through at least June 4, offering continued relief from the season's intense heat. The forecast follows one of the coolest June 1 openings the capital has recorded in recent years.
Yellow Alert Issued for Tuesday Night
The IMD has placed the national capital under a yellow alert for Tuesday, warning of possible thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light rainfall, and strong winds — particularly after nightfall. Wind speeds are expected to touch 40–50 kmph in some areas. No colour-coded warnings have been issued for Wednesday or Thursday.
Temperatures Expected to Stay Below 40°C
Meteorologists expect the prevailing weather pattern to keep daytime temperatures below the 40-degree Celsius threshold until at least June 6. On 1 June, the Safdarjung observatory — Delhi's primary weather station — logged a maximum of 36.3°C and a minimum of 24.9°C. The last time Delhi recorded a lower June 1 daytime temperature was in 2023, when the mercury settled at 32.7°C.
Southwest Monsoon Onset Over Kerala Imminent
The IMD has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to make its onset over Kerala within the next two to three days. Weather conditions have turned favourable for the monsoon's further advancement over parts of the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The department also expects the monsoon to progress into additional areas of the Bay of Bengal — including the southwest, west-central, east-central, and northeastern regions — over the same period. India's annual monsoon season typically begins around 1 June and gradually spreads across the subcontinent.
Wider Weather Impact Across India
Beyond Delhi-NCR, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, rainfall, and gusty winds across several northern, eastern, central, and southern states this week. The anticipated showers are expected to ease high temperatures and improve conditions across multiple regions. This comes amid a broader pattern of pre-monsoon activity that has been more active than usual across the Indo-Gangetic plains in early June.
Point of View
But the IMD's framing deserves scrutiny. A yellow alert with no follow-up warnings for Wednesday and Thursday suggests confidence in a brief, self-limiting system — yet the monsoon's imminent Kerala landfall could alter the timeline unpredictably. More importantly, the 2023 benchmark cited for June 1 temperatures points to a pattern: Delhi's pre-monsoon heat is becoming less reliably extreme, complicating long-range planning for power grids and water utilities that budget for peak summer demand. The real story is not the rain — it is what the monsoon's pace over the next fortnight means for reservoir levels and kharif sowing schedules across northwest India.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IMD forecast for Delhi-NCR until June 4?
The IMD has forecast rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across Delhi and the NCR through June 4. A yellow alert has been issued for Tuesday night, warning of lightning, light rainfall, and winds of 40–50 kmph.
Will temperatures in Delhi cross 40°C this week?
Meteorologists expect daytime temperatures to remain below 40°C until at least June 6, aided by the prevailing cloudy and wet weather pattern. On June 1, the Safdarjung observatory recorded a maximum of just 36.3°C.
When is the southwest monsoon expected to reach Kerala?
The IMD has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to make its onset over Kerala within two to three days of June 2. Conditions have turned favourable over the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
How does this June compare to previous years for Delhi?
June 1 this year was one of the coolest in recent memory for Delhi. The last time the city recorded a lower June 1 maximum was in 2023, when the temperature was 32.7°C, compared to 36.3°C this year.
Which other parts of India will see rain this week?
Beyond Delhi-NCR, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across several northern, eastern, central, and southern states. The monsoon is also expected to advance over parts of the Bay of Bengal during the same period.
