Delhi and nearby regions experienced moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a hailstorm alert for Delhi and other parts of North India, with the rain expected to continue over the weekend.

Alerts in Place

An ‘orange’ alert has been declared for Delhi for Friday, indicating heavy rain, while a ‘yellow’ alert has been issued for Saturday and Sunday. The rainfall, triggered by a Western Disturbance interacting with easterly winds, is likely to bring further disruptions in the coming days.

Disruptions in the Capital

The rain, which began early Friday morning and continued throughout the day, caused waterlogging in several low-lying areas across Delhi. Traffic was disrupted in South, Central, and North Delhi, with the highest rainfall recorded at Delhi University’s North Campus.

The IMD predicts additional showers in the city over the next few hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and the possibility of hailstorms.

Weather Forecast for North India

The IMD has also forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms for regions including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall is expected in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on December 27 and 28.

"Thunderstorms with hailstorms are likely over parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat," the IMD said in its latest update.

Cold Wave Conditions in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan

Himachal Pradesh is likely to witness cold wave conditions starting Sunday, with snowfall expected in higher altitudes. Rajasthan has also reported light to moderate rainfall, with Churu recording the state’s lowest minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius. Night temperatures in the state ranged between 5.4 and 17.2 degrees Celsius, with Vanasthali reporting the highest minimum temperature.

Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and exercise caution during adverse conditions.