Residents across Delhi-NCR were jolted late Thursday evening when emergency weather alerts flashed on their mobile phones — not once, but twice within a matter of hours. For many, the urgent notifications raised one pressing question: Is the worst over, or is more severe weather on the way?

The answer, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), is that people across Delhi and neighbouring regions should remain on alert.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and powerful winds swept through parts of the national capital and adjoining cities on Thursday night after authorities issued an "extremely severe" weather warning. The first alert reached mobile users around 8:53 pm, followed by another notification shortly before 11 pm, cautioning residents about rapidly changing weather conditions.

The warnings highlighted the possibility of intense thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall, lightning activity and damaging winds across Delhi and large parts of western Uttar Pradesh over the next few hours.

Delhi-NCR, western UP under weather watch

Areas expected to witness the impact of the storm system include Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra.

The IMD has warned that wind speeds could range between 70 kmph and 90 kmph, with isolated gusts potentially touching 100 kmph. Such conditions could result in uprooted trees, damage to temporary structures, traffic disruptions and localised power outages.

The weather office has also flagged the possibility of lightning strikes and hailstorms in some areas, urging residents to exercise caution.

Yellow alert for Friday: More rain likely

While the immediate threat may ease, the IMD has retained a yellow alert for Friday, signalling that unsettled weather conditions are likely to persist.

The forecast predicts light rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning during parts of the day. Strong surface winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 60 kmph, could affect morning and afternoon activities.

Commuters and those planning outdoor engagements have been advised to monitor official weather updates before stepping out.

Even as rain brought temporary respite from the heat, Delhi continued to experience warm conditions.

The slight dip in temperatures offered some relief, but forecasters say humidity and intermittent rain could continue to influence weather conditions in the coming days.