Heavy rain in Kerala, hailstorms in Delhi: IMD warns of weather disruptions that could affect travellers across India

The India Meteorological Department has issued a multi-day weather advisory for June 12 to June 17, warning of disruptive conditions across parts of India that could affect travel, commuting and coastal activity.

The bulletin highlights heavy rain risk in Kerala, hailstorm risk in Delhi and the National Capital Region, and thunderstorms, strong winds and rough seas in other areas. Published reporting based on the advisory says the weather could disrupt road, rail and air travel as the monsoon season gathers pace.

The warning matters because June is the start of India’s monsoon travel period, when weather changes can quickly affect transport schedules, sightseeing plans and movement along coastal and hill routes. Delhi has also already seen a run of unsettled weather in the days leading up to the latest alert.

What IMD warned about

According to the reporting, IMD’s all-India outlook covers heavy rainfall in Kerala, hailstorms in Delhi-NCR, and thunderstorms in several other regions. The agency also flagged strong winds, heat in some places and rough sea conditions where the advisory applies.

A separate forecast for Delhi-NCR on June 12 added a yellow alert for rainfall and thunderstorms, with winds of around 60-70 kmph and gusts up to 80 kmph in some locations. Hail was also listed as a possibility.

For travellers, that combination can matter even when rainfall totals are not extreme. Strong winds and thunderstorms can delay flights, slow road traffic and create short-notice changes to rail and local transport schedules.

How the warning built up

The weather pattern was already developing before the June 12 bulletin. Reporting on June 11 said IMD had issued a thunderstorm and hailstorm alert for Delhi-NCR, while earlier coverage pointed to another spell of rain for the capital on June 11-12.

By the morning of June 12, reporting based on IMD’s broader bulletin said the warning window had widened through June 17, bringing Kerala’s heavy-rain risk and Delhi’s storm and hail threat into the same multi-day advisory.

That chronology suggests the current alert is not an isolated weather event but part of a longer spell of instability across multiple regions.

What it means for travel and coastal activity

The main risk from the advisory is not only local weather disruption but knock-on effects for movement across the country. Heavy showers, hail and strong winds can slow commutes, delay departures and interfere with airport operations if conditions worsen.

In Kerala, prolonged rainfall can affect inland travel, hill routes and coastal movement, especially if the heavier rain concentrates in specific districts. The research packet does not identify those districts yet, so the exact local impact remains to be seen.

In Delhi-NCR, even a short thunderstorm can create sharp travel disruption if it arrives during peak commuting or flight windows. The yellow alert and wind speeds reported for June 12 add to that risk.

Coastal users also face a separate hazard from rough seas. That may affect fishing activity and small-boat movement while the advisory remains in force.

What to watch next

The key unanswered question is where the heaviest impacts will actually fall. Open questions remain over which districts in Kerala receive the strongest rain, whether Delhi-NCR sees hail or mainly thunderstorms and gusty winds, and whether IMD escalates warnings for transport or coastal activity.

For now, the advisory remains one to monitor through June 17. Travellers in affected regions should keep checking official weather and transport updates before moving, especially if they are flying, driving long distances or heading to the coast.