NEW DELHI — Residents across Delhi-NCR woke up to hazy skies and reduced visibility on Friday, April 3, 2026, as a sudden dust storm swept through the region.
The sharp shift in weather follows a notably warm Thursday, when the capital recorded a maximum temperature of 36.8°C—nearly 3 degrees above the seasonal average.
Temperature: Expected to range between 33°C and 21°C today, a slight relief from yesterday's heat.
Night Forecast: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by light rain for Friday night as the cloud cover intensifies.
Peak Activity: One or two spells of very light rain or drizzle are expected.
Wind Hazards: Thunderstorms will likely be accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-50 kmph, particularly during the afternoon and evening.
Impact: The unsettled conditions are part of an active Western disturbance that is also bringing heavy snow to the Kashmir Valley today.
Current AQI: Hovering around 182-199 in various parts of the city.
Outlook: Rain and thunderstorms over the next 48 hours are expected to wash away suspended dust particles, potentially improving the AQI toward the 'Satisfactory' range by Sunday.
Delhi 5-Day Weather Outlook (April 2026)
Regional Impact
The IMD bulletin indicates that this 'wet spell' is widespread:
Mountains: High-altitude areas of Himachal and Uttarakhand are seeing fairly widespread rain and snow through April 6.
Plains: Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh are also on alert for thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms today and tomorrow.