The Delhi-NCR temperature dipped to 28 degrees Celsius following very light-to-light rainfall on Thursday morning, bringing respite from blistering heatwave conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for the national capital, predicting heavy rainfall in Delhi and adjoining areas. "Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi is very likely to get isolated heavy (64.5-115.5 mm) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4 mm) on 3rd July, 2024."

Dark clouds had camped in the sky in the Delhi-NCR region since last evening, with people anticipating a late-night wet spell. However, rain lashed the national capital areas around 4 am this morning. Different areas including Ghaziabad, Noida and Western Uttar Pradesh received rainfall.

IMD predicted similar weather conditions throughout the day. Cloudy skies and moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning will prevail in Delhi from July 4 to 7.

Delhi had experienced oppressive heat earlier, with nine heatwave days recorded in June so far, contrasting sharply with no such occurrences in 2023 and 2022.

IMD predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall spells are likely over Northwest and East India and very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over Northeast India during the next 4-5 days.

An orange alert for heavy rainfall has been issued in Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar and other regions.