IMD thunderstorm alert for 7 Rajasthan divisions as Western Disturbance persists
Synopsis
A powerful Western Disturbance is delivering rare May relief to Rajasthan — but with a sting. Thunderstorms with 70 kmph winds, hailstorms, and lightning are sweeping seven divisions, even as temperatures drop up to 10 degrees. The IMD says the pattern holds for four to five more days, making this one of the most significant weather disruptions to hit the state mid-summer.
Key Takeaways
The IMD has issued a thunderstorm and squall alert for 7 Rajasthan divisions : Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.
Wind speeds of 60–70 kmph are forecast; hailstorms and lightning strikes are also possible.
Highest rainfall in the past 24 hours : 58 mm at Bari, Dholpur district .
Temperatures in northeastern Rajasthan dropped by up to 10 degrees Celsius on Friday due to storm activity.
Maximum temperatures are expected to remain below 44°C across most of the state for the next 4–5 days .
The weather is driven by a Western Disturbance over northwest UP and an upper-air cyclonic circulation over Central Pakistan .
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for intense thunderstorms, squalls, and heavy rainfall across seven divisions of Rajasthan — Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Udaipur — as a strong Western Disturbance continues to grip the state. The weather pattern is expected to persist over the next four to five days, offering sustained relief from severe heatwave conditions that have battered the region.
Key Developments
Over the past 24 hours, thunderstorms and rainfall were recorded across multiple districts. The highest rainfall in this period — 58 mm — was logged at Bari in Dholpur district. The Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, has forecast wind speeds of 60–70 kmph accompanying the squalls. Isolated heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and lightning strikes are also anticipated in parts of the state.
Since Saturday morning, storm and rain activity has been reported in several districts including Sri Ganganagar and Udaipur. In Sri Ganganagar, a dust storm around 11 am blanketed the city, with several localities reporting conditions resembling sand tornadoes — bringing abrupt but welcome relief from scorching temperatures.
What Is Driving the Weather
According to the IMD, the current spell is being driven by multiple overlapping atmospheric systems. A Western Disturbance is currently positioned as a cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh, extending between 3.1 km and 5.8 km above mean sea level and tilting northwestward with height. It is accompanied by an upper-air trough aligned roughly along Longitude 78°E north of Latitude 25°N. Separately, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over Central Pakistan continues to persist up to 1.5 km above mean sea level, adding further moisture and instability to the region.
Temperature Impact
The storm activity has already produced measurable cooling. On Friday, rainfall and storms across northeastern Rajasthan caused temperatures to fall by up to 10 degrees Celsius in some districts. Hail accompanied rainfall in Churu, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Sikar, Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, and Karauli. Going forward, maximum temperatures across most parts of the state are expected to stay below 44 degrees Celsius, extending the break from intense heat.
What to Expect Next
The afternoon cycle of thunderstorm and rainfall activity is likely to continue across parts of Rajasthan for the next four to five days, according to the IMD. Residents in affected divisions have been advised to remain alert to rapidly changing conditions, particularly lightning strikes and high-speed squalls. Authorities are monitoring the situation as the Western Disturbance gradually tracks its course.
Point of View
Where heatwave conditions typically peak and hold through June. The 10-degree temperature drop in northeastern districts signals genuine atmospheric disruption, not a minor spell. What warrants attention is the convergence of three separate systems — the Western Disturbance, an upper-air trough, and a Pakistan cyclonic circulation — which collectively extend the forecast window to five days. For a state that has repeatedly broken heat records this decade, the IMD's sustained alert is both a meteorological event and a public safety one: lightning and 70 kmph squalls carry real risk even as residents welcome the cooling.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts in Rajasthan are under IMD thunderstorm alert?
The IMD has issued a thunderstorm and squall alert covering the Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Udaipur divisions of Rajasthan. Districts including Sri Ganganagar, Udaipur, Churu, Hanumangarh, Sikar, Alwar, Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, and Karauli have already reported storm and hail activity.
How long will the rain and thunderstorm activity last in Rajasthan?
According to the IMD, the afternoon cycle of thunderstorm and rainfall activity is expected to continue across parts of Rajasthan for the next four to five days. The weather is being sustained by a Western Disturbance and associated upper-air systems.
What is causing the thunderstorms in Rajasthan?
The storms are being driven by a Western Disturbance currently positioned as a cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh, extending between 3.1 km and 5.8 km above mean sea level. It is reinforced by an upper-air trough along Longitude 78°E and a separate cyclonic circulation over Central Pakistan persisting up to 1.5 km above sea level.
Has the storm activity provided relief from the heatwave in Rajasthan?
Yes. On Friday, storms and rainfall in northeastern Rajasthan caused temperatures to drop by up to 10 degrees Celsius in some districts. The IMD expects maximum temperatures across most of the state to stay below 44°C over the next several days, extending relief from severe heatwave conditions.
Where was the highest rainfall recorded in Rajasthan in the past 24 hours?
The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was recorded at Bari in Dholpur district, which received 58 mm of rain. Several other districts across the state also recorded thunderstorm and rainfall activity during the same period.
