New Delhi, India — March 15, 2026
Weather Change Across North India as Western Disturbance Triggers Rain and Storm Alerts
Weather conditions across several parts of India are expected to shift again as a western disturbance becomes active, bringing rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms to parts of North and East India.
Early Sunday morning, light rainfall in Delhi–NCR signaled a change in weather patterns. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system could affect several states over the next few days.
The weather agency has warned that hilly states may experience rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds, while northwestern and eastern parts of the country could also see scattered rainfall and storm activity.
Rain, Hailstorm Possibility in Several Northern States
According to IMD forecasts, isolated hailstorms may occur in several regions during the coming days.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: March 15
Himachal Pradesh: March 15 and March 18
Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and East Uttar Pradesh: March 15–16
West Uttar Pradesh: March 16
These weather conditions are linked to the ongoing western disturbance influencing northern India.
Orange Alert Issued in Himachal Pradesh Districts
The meteorological department has issued an Orange Alert for Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on Sunday due to the risk of thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds.
Additionally, Yellow Alerts have been issued for Monday and Wednesday in the districts of:
Chamba
Kangra
Kullu
Mandi
Shimla
These regions may experience rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and wind speeds of 40–50 km/h.
Over the past 24 hours, Himachal Pradesh recorded mostly dry weather. The coldest location in the state was Tabo, where the minimum temperature dropped to 0.2°C, while Una recorded the highest daytime temperature at 33.6°C.
The IMD also noted that another western disturbance may become active over northwest India starting the night of March 17, potentially increasing rainfall activity in mountainous regions.
Rajasthan May Experience Dust Storms and Strong Winds
Weather conditions may also change in Rajasthan, where the western disturbance could bring gusty winds and light rainfall in several districts.
According to meteorologists, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Churu may experience winds blowing at 30–40 km/h, along with cloud cover and possible thunderstorms.
On Sunday, some parts of Ajmer, Jaipur, and Bharatpur divisions could see dust storms accompanied by light rainfall or drizzle.
Rain Forecast for Jharkhand Over the Next Four Days
In eastern India, the Jharkhand Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rainfall across many districts for the next four days.
On Sunday, rainfall is expected in most districts of the state, except Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, and Latehar.
The department also noted that maximum temperatures may rise slightly during the next two days before rainfall activity increases again.
Outlook
Meteorologists say the current weather changes are primarily driven by western disturbances moving across northern India, which often bring rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds during this period of the year.
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated with local weather advisories and take precautions during thunderstorms or strong winds.
