Northern India’s weather has flipped the script on early summer expectations, delivering Delhi’s coldest March day in half a decade. Friday brought 21.7°C maximums to Safdarjung—the lowest since March 2020—thanks to torrential rains and fierce winds, IMD reports. Residents bundled up as the unseasonal chill lingered.
Forecasts hint at moderation with 14°C lows and 27°C highs Saturday in Delhi, but light rain looms March 23. Air quality bounced back to AQI 93, satisfactory levels unseen since October 2025’s 99, providing pollution-weary Delhi a rare clear day. Mountains are hit hardest: Himachal’s Manali, Lahaul-Spiti, Rohtang under 120 cm snow from Friday’s blizzard, roads shut by slides. Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath, Badrinath in four-foot snowdrifts, more precipitation due March 23-26.
A cascade of alerts covers 15 states. Northeast starts with March 21 rains in Nagaland et al., building to Assam deluges March 24. East-central: Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand thunder with 60 km/h gusts, hail March 21-24. South: Andhra to Kerala lightning rains March 21-22. Maharashtra central: showers, hail bursts select days.
Punjab-Haryana-Chandigarh temps crashed 7-10°C to 18.8°C; UP districts drenched, Lucknow 23.5°C max (10°C deficit). Orange alerts blanket 27 UP areas for intense rain, underscoring western disturbance dominance reshaping India’s skies.
