Clouds shrouded the city and trace rain was reported in a few areas on Friday as Delhi recorded its lowest maximum in 21 days and witnessed a sharp fall in temperatures of up to 9.4 degrees Celsius in places over the past 48 hours.

The city's maximum temperature settled at 36.8 degrees Celsius on Friday, the lowest since May 8 when it stood at 36.4 degrees Celsius. During the intervening 21 days, the mercury steadily climbed, crossing the 45-degree Celsius mark amid prolonged heatwave conditions.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, temperatures across the national capital dropped sharply over the past 48 hours.

Safdarjung recorded a decline of 7.5 degrees Celsius, with the maximum temperature falling from 44.3 degrees Celsius on May 27 to 36.8 degrees Celsius on Friday. Ridge witnessed a drop of 8.8 degrees Celsius, from 45.6 degrees Celsius to 36.8 degrees Celsius.

The sharpest decline was recorded at Ayanagar and Palam, where maximum temperatures fell by 9.4 degrees Celsius each.

- PTI

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday asked state governments to brace for possible low rainfall or other challenging weather conditions in view of El Nino threat and the IMD forecast of a below-normal monsoon this year.

He said the Union agriculture ministry is chalking out contingency plans to deal with any eventuality and asserted that there is adequate availability of seeds and fertilisers to meet demand during the upcoming Kharif (summer-sown) season that will begin from June with the onset of southwest monsoon.

"We are monitoring El-Nino phenomenon. We are not sure as of now but if such a situation arises and if there is any delay in monsoon or gap in rains, we are making preparation to deal with it," he told reporters on the concluding day of the National Agriculture Conference - Kharif Campaign 2026.

- PTI

The India Meteorological Department on Friday forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms across Uttar Pradesh over the next two days and warned of strong winds, lightning, hailstorms and heavy rainfall in isolated areas.

According to a weather bulletin issued by its Lucknow centre, rain and thundershowers are very likely at many places in both western and eastern Uttar Pradesh on May 29 and 30.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and dust storms with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph, are likely at a few places in both regions on Friday.

Heavy rain and hailstorm are also likely at isolated places across the state on May 29, it said.

The adverse weather disrupted normal life in several parts of the state. In Saharanpur, heavy rainfall early Friday triggered a strong flow of water from hilly areas.

- PTI

A powerful spell of thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain and gusty winds swept across Kolkata and several districts of South Bengal on Friday afternoon, bringing relief from the humid conditions.

Dark clouds gathered over Kolkata and adjoining areas since morning, as heavy rain lashed several parts of the city, including Salt Lake, Esplanade, Jadavpur and Baranagar, while strong winds with speeds of 50-60 kmph battered the metropolis.

Similar weather conditions were reported from neighbouring Howrah and Hooghly districts.

The storm was so intense in some areas that visibility dropped sharply, forcing motorists to switch on headlights during the afternoon hours.

Officials said several hoardings and banners were damaged due to the strong winds.

The IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore said enhanced thunderstorm activity is likely over south Bengal during the next two days owing to favourable wind patterns and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

In a weather bulletin, the IMD said a trough extending from a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan to interior Odisha, passing through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and north Chhattisgarh at 0.9 km above mean sea level, along with an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north interior Odisha, has created conducive conditions for widespread thunderstorm activity.

Districts of Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Jhargram, Purulia, Birbhum and Paschim Medinipur districts has a forecast of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 60-70 kmph at isolated places.

- PTI

Kerala is set to witness widespread rain, thunderstorms and strong winds till June 2 as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday forecast favourable conditions for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over large parts of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal during the next two to three days.

According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon is likely to advance further into more parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep region, the southwest Bay of Bengal, the central-east Bay of Bengal, the central-west Bay of Bengal, the remaining parts of the southeast Bay of Bengal and parts of the northeast Bay of Bengal over the coming days.

The weather department said multiple cyclonic circulations are currently influencing weather systems over the region.

A cyclonic circulation persists over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining areas, while another remains over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast.

A third cyclonic circulation has formed over the central-east and southeast Bay of Bengal.

Under the influence of these systems, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and Mahe on May 29, May 31 and June 1 and 2.

The IMD has also predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph across Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep from May 29 to June 2.

- IANS

Severe heat wave conditions persisted in parts of Rajasthan, with Sri Ganganagar recording the highest maximum temperature at 47.1 degrees Celsius during the last 24 hours ending Friday morning, the weather department said.

Light to moderate rainfall was also recorded at isolated places in the state during the last 24 hours, it said.

"Thunderstorms accompanied by dust storms were reported at isolated places in eastern Rajasthan, while western Rajasthan witnessed thunderstorms and hailstorm activity at some locations," the Met department said.

Severe heat wave conditions prevailed in Sri Ganganagar while heat wave conditions were recorded at several places in western Rajasthan and at isolated places in the eastern parts of the state.

The department has also issued an alert for thunderstorms, lightning and rain activity in northern districts.

- PTI

Four persons were killed in separate incidents as rains with strong winds caused havoc in parts of Andhra Pradesh late on Thursday night.

Two youths were killed when a tree fell on the motorbike they were riding, in Krishna district's Kummarapalem. The deceased were identified as Manohar and Shivarama Krishna

A Home Guard and a student died of electrocution in two separate incidents.

With the end of Tamil Nadu's peak summer spell, heavy rain has been forecast for more than 15 districts in the state, the weather office said today.

The peak phase of summer, known as 'Agni Natchathiram', lasted from May 4 to 28.

A latest bulletin from the India Metereological Department (IMD) here said the heat wave conditions continued till Thursday, with temperatures crossing 38 degree celsius in more than 10 districts, including Chennai.

Delhi got some relief from the scorching heat on Friday morning after Thursday evening's rain brought down the minimum temperature to 25.3 degrees Celsius from 28.4 degrees Celsius recorded a day before, weather data showed.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Friday, forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by rain, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph in the afternoon and evening.

The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 36 degrees Celsius.

Weak El Nino conditions to develop in June; moderate to strong in September, says weather body.

India likely to witness 90% of long period average rainfall this monsoon: India Meteorological Department

Large parts of Uttar Pradesh reeled under intense heat on Thursday, with Banda emerging as the hottest place in the state at 47.5 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD's Meteorological Centre in Lucknow said Jhansi recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Orai at 44.8 degrees Celsius and Agra at 43.3 degrees Celsius. Kanpur city registered 42.2 degrees Celsius, while Aligarh touched 42.8 degrees Celsius.

Hamirpur and Lakhimpur Kheri also witnessed severe heat, recording 42.2 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius, respectively. Prayagraj recorded 41 degrees Celsius, while Churk in Sonbhadra registered 40.3 degrees Celsius.

The state capital Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius, 2.7 notches below normal. The minimum temperature in the city settled at 27.3 degrees Celsius.

Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest temperature in Rajasthan on Thursday at 47.1 degrees Celsius, as most districts in the state continued to experience severe heat conditions.

Temperatures in several parts of the state remained at 45 degrees Celsius and above, indicating persistent intense heat across the region.

In addition to Sri Ganganagar, temperatures crossed 46 degrees Celsius in Kota, Phalodi, Alwar and Jaisalmer.