IMD forecasts rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds for June 30 as monsoon advances; Delhi may get light rain

The India Meteorological Department has forecast rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds for June 30 as the southwest monsoon continues to advance across parts of India.

Delhi is expected to see only light rain or cloudy conditions in the latest reporting, but several other states are facing weather alerts and the risk of stronger showers, wind gusts and local disruption.

Latest forecast cycle

Reports published on June 29 said the IMD was warning of rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several states for June 30, with yellow alerts issued in multiple regions. A follow-up report on June 30 said the warning remained in place as the monsoon advanced, with light rain likely in Delhi and stronger rainfall in some other areas.

One report said wind gusts could reach up to 70 kmph in some places. Another said heavy to very heavy rainfall was expected across parts of northwest, central, east and northeast India.

Areas under watch

The reporting cites alerts or weather risk for multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

A separate state-level report said much of Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, was under a yellow alert through Thursday, with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and widespread rainfall expected to peak around July 2.

Why it matters

The main risks are travel disruption, difficult road conditions, lightning and strong winds. The forecast also reflects the broader monsoon transition, which can bring relief from extreme heat in some places while increasing rainfall disruption elsewhere.

Late June is a normal period for the southwest monsoon to move into north India, and recent reporting said conditions were favourable for further advance across several northern states within five to six days.

What to watch next

The main uncertainty is how intense the weather becomes state by state and district by district. Delhi may only see light rain, but local thunderstorms could still develop.

Watch for updated IMD bulletins and district-level alerts through June 30 and July 1, and for any upgrade or downgrade in warnings across central, northern and northeastern India.