Dust, Sun And Rain All In A Day: What's Causing Delhi's Wild Weather?

Last Updated:April 04, 2026, 09:12 IST

The short answer: A weather system from the west is stirring things up

If it feels like Delhi’s weather can’t make up its mind lately — dust storms in the morning, sunshine by afternoon, rain by evening — you’re not imagining it. Here’s what’s going on, in simple terms.

What Exactly Happened On Friday?

Delhi had one of its busiest weather days in a while, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD):

• Morning: Strong winds over 20kmph kicked up a dust storm, cutting visibility on several roads and pushing air quality into the “poor" zone — an AQI of 266, up from 194 the day before

• Afternoon: Winds eased, clouds built up, and the air turned cooler

• Evening: Rain arrived around 5pm and turned into moderate showers by 8pm, with gusty winds and lightning

• Night: The IMD issued an orange alert — its second-highest warning — for thunderstorms and wind gusts of 40–50kmph

So Why Is All This Happening?

The culprit is something called a western disturbance — a weather system that travels from the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia towards India, carrying moisture with it. When it reaches northwest India, it disturbs the normally dry, warm air and triggers clouds, rain and dust storms.

Mahesh Palawat, president of weather agency Skymet, explained that when western disturbances arrive during March and April — the pre-monsoon season — they create powerful thunderclouds capable of bringing hailstorms and lightning. That’s exactly what hit Rajasthan and Haryana recently, sending ripples into Delhi’s weather too.

The IMD says two back-to-back western disturbances are responsible for this extended stretch of unsettled weather, with the busiest spells expected around April 3–4 and again around April 7.

Will It Get Colder? What’s Coming Next?

Yes — at least for a few days, according to the IMD:

• Saturday–Sunday: Cloudy skies, light rain, thunderstorms and strong winds. Maximum temperature likely to fall to 29–31°C, below normal for this time of year

• April 6–7: Another round of rain likely as the second western disturbance moves in, says Palawat

• From Monday: Weather should gradually settle, though skies will stay partly cloudy

The Simple Takeaway

Think of a western disturbance like a giant spinning top of wet, unstable air rolling in from the west. When it passes over Delhi, it shakes up everything — bringing dust, rain and cooler temperatures in quick succession.

Once it moves on, things calm down. Delhi should be back to clearer skies by early next week, the IMD says — until the next one arrives.

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