Weather takes a turn, Basant Panchami turns cool as heavy rain hits Punjab, Haryana and several states
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The weather has suddenly changed across several parts of Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Rajasthan. Strong gusty winds have been reported from areas such as Bawana, Narela, Rohini, Bahadurgarh, Rohtak and Kotputli. Dense clouds have covered the sky, and light rain has been recorded at multiple locations. The Meteorological Department has also issued a warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning. The next few hours are considered crucial from a weather perspective.
Strong winds felt in these areas
Weather activity has intensified in Delhi’s Narela, Bawana, Alipur, Burari, Kanjhawala, Rohini, Badli, Model Town, Azadpur, Pitampura, Mundka, Paschim Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden, Jafarpur, Najafgarh and Dwarka. Similar conditions have been observed in Bahadurgarh in NCR.
In Haryana’s Rohtak, Jhajjar, Farrukhnagar, Mahendragarh and Narnaul, along with Kotputli in Rajasthan, light to moderate rain is likely. Wind speeds may reach 40 to 60 km per hour during this period.
IMD alert for Delhi
According to the weather department, Delhi is likely to remain cloudy throughout the day. Light rain may occur from morning to afternoon, while some areas could witness brief but intense showers. Thunder, lightning and winds blowing at 30 to 40 km per hour are also expected. In the afternoon, light to moderate rain may continue, while light mist could develop by evening.
Weather situation in north-west India
Due to the influence of an active western disturbance, snowfall, hailstorms and heavy rain are likely at some places in the western Himalayan region on January 23, 2026. Warnings for lightning and strong winds have also been issued. Its impact may extend to the plains of north-west India, where light to moderate rainfall is expected.
Temperature fluctuations ahead
Minimum temperatures across north-west India may rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius on Friday. This could be followed by a gradual drop of 2 to 4 degrees over the next two days. Thereafter, temperatures are likely to increase again by 2 to 4 degrees over the following four days.
In central India, minimum temperatures may initially rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, followed by a drop of 3 to 4 degrees in the next two days. A slight increase of 2 to 3 degrees is expected thereafter, with no major changes predicted in the coming days.