A sudden shift in weather patterns brought widespread relief and fresh alerts across multiple regions of India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds in several states over the next few days.

Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rainfall and overcast skies on Friday, offering much-needed respite from rising temperatures.

According to the IMD, a green alert has been issued for Saturday, March 21, with partly cloudy skies expected. The maximum temperature is likely to hover between 26°C and 28°C, while the minimum may settle between 13°C and 15°C.

The capital’s weather is expected to remain dynamic over the next few days. On Sunday, March 22, skies will stay partly cloudy before turning generally cloudy by evening, with temperatures ranging between 29°C and 31°C during the day and 15°C to 17°C at night.

By Monday, March 23, conditions may worsen slightly, with forecasts indicating generally cloudy skies along with the possibility of very light rain, thunderstorms and lightning.

Daytime temperatures may touch 30°C to 32°C. On Tuesday, March 24, partly cloudy skies are expected to return, with no significant rainfall activity.

In eastern India, Kolkata and several districts of South Bengal experienced a dramatic overnight weather change, marked by gusty winds and moderate rainfall. While the intensity reduced by morning, intermittent drizzles continued in some areas.

The Alipore Meteorological Department has warned of thunderstorms and rain across multiple districts on Saturday, including Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Bankura and Murshidabad.

Wind speeds in these regions may reach 60 to 70 kmph, prompting an orange alert. There is also a possibility of hailstorms in some districts, raising concerns about potential damage to crops and infrastructure.

Bihar is also on high alert, with the Meteorological Department forecasting severe lightning and heavy rainfall in several districts over the next 24 hours. Areas including Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Darbhanga, Begusarai and Katihar are likely to be affected.

Wind speeds could range between 40 to 60 kmph in different regions. The weather may pose challenges during Eid celebrations, even as the rainfall has led to a noticeable dip in temperatures. On Friday, maximum temperatures across Bihar ranged from 30.2°C to 36.9°C, while minimum temperatures stayed between 18°C and 24°C.

Meanwhile, South India is set to experience a mix of cloudy skies, rain and thunderstorms. Hyderabad is likely to see hazy conditions under a generally cloudy sky, with temperatures between 22°C and 35°C. Amaravati may witness spells of rain or thundershowers accompanied by lightning and strong winds.

Bengaluru is expected to remain partly cloudy without any major weather warnings, while Thiruvananthapuram could see moderate rain or thunderstorms along with high humidity levels. Chennai is also likely to experience light rain under partly cloudy skies, with thunderstorms and lightning expected.

Kerala is set to witness a mix of heat and storm activity. The IMD has issued a heat warning for several districts, including Kollam, Kottayam, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, where maximum temperatures are expected to reach 36°C to 37°C—around 2–3°C above normal.

At the same time, the state is likely to experience rain or thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at isolated places.

Rainfall is expected to persist, particularly across central and southern districts such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad, indicating a combination of humid heat and intermittent showers.

Overall, the changing weather pattern has brought temporary relief from heat in several regions but has also triggered warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds, urging residents to stay cautious.