Today Weather 20 March 2026: IMD Issues Storm and Heavy Rain Alert in 19 States
India is witnessing a sudden shift in weather patterns just before peak summer, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a major alert for 20 March 2026 warning of widespread rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hailstorms across multiple regions, with nearly 19 states expected to be affected and wind speeds reaching up to 85 km/h in some areas, bringing temporary relief from rising temperatures but also raising concerns about safety, travel disruption, and crop damage across northern, eastern, and central India.
IMD Weather Alert: 19 States to Witness Rain and Thunderstorms
The IMD has placed a large portion of the country under weather alert due to an active western disturbance and favorable atmospheric conditions, with affected regions including North-West India such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir along with Eastern and Central India including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, while Western India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa and Southern states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are also expected to witness varying intensities of rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, making this one of the most widespread weather events of the season so far.
Strong Winds Up to 85 km/h Expected Across North India
Northern India is likely to experience the most intense impact as strong winds ranging from 40 to 60 km/h and gusts up to 85 km/h are expected along with thunderstorms, lightning, and moderate to heavy rainfall in several cities including Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Dehradun, and these conditions may lead to falling trees, traffic disruptions, and potential damage to weak structures, urging residents to remain cautious and limit unnecessary travel during peak storm hours.
North-West India Weather Update (Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Punjab)
The north-western region will remain under significant weather influence with Delhi expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning and wind speeds of around 40 to 50 km/h while temperatures may hover around 22°C maximum and 14°C minimum, Uttar Pradesh will see widespread rainfall across districts such as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Deoria along with thunderstorms and possible hailstorms, Punjab and Haryana are also likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall with gusty winds, while Rajasthan including districts like Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, Bhilwara, Bundi, Pali, and Barmer may witness rainfall despite typically dry conditions bringing a slight drop in temperature and short-term relief from heat.
Eastern & Central India Rain Forecast (Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal)
Eastern and central regions including Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal are expected to witness moderate to heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and strong winds, Bihar in particular remains highly vulnerable with districts such as Katihar, Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani under alert and wind speeds reaching up to 60 km/h, while Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal may see even stronger gusts up to 70–80 km/h along with continuous lightning activity, and the unstable weather pattern in West Bengal and Sikkim may persist until 23 March extending the impact further.
Hailstorm and Lightning Warning in Multiple States
The IMD has also warned of hailstorms and intense lightning activity across several states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and such conditions pose serious risks to agriculture, infrastructure, and human safety as lightning strikes remain one of the leading causes of weather-related casualties in India, making it essential for people to stay indoors during storms and avoid open areas, especially fields and elevated spaces.
City-Wise Temperature Forecast for 20 March 2026
The temperature outlook suggests a noticeable dip across several regions with Delhi expected at 22°C maximum and 14°C minimum, Mumbai at 29°C and 24°C, Chennai at 31°C and 26°C, Kolkata at 32°C and 22°C, Lucknow at 27°C and 17°C, Patna at 32°C and 20°C, Bhopal at 29°C and 17°C, Jaipur at 23°C and 15°C, Shimla at 11°C and 6°C, and Nainital at 15°C and 9°C indicating temporary cooling due to rainfall and cloud cover.
UP Weather Tomorrow: District-Wise Rain Alert
Uttar Pradesh is set to experience widespread weather activity across both western and eastern regions with moderate to heavy rainfall expected in districts such as Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Deoria, and Mainpuri along with thunderstorms, lightning, wind speeds of 40 to 50 km/h, and isolated hailstorm activity, and farmers are advised to secure crops and avoid fieldwork during storm periods to minimize potential losses.
Bihar Weather Tomorrow: Heavy Rain and Storm Warning
Bihar is under a strong alert for heavy rainfall and storm activity with wind speeds reaching up to 60 km/h and intense lightning expected across districts including Katihar, Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani while Patna may record temperatures around 32°C maximum and 20°C minimum, and residents are advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms and remain cautious of lightning risks.
Delhi Weather Update: Rain, Thunderstorm and Strong Winds
Delhi will continue to experience unstable weather with moderate to heavy rainfall expected across several localities including Laxmi Nagar, Anand Vihar, ITO, Rajghat, and Uttam Nagar along with gusty winds of 40 to 50 km/h and thunderstorm activity, bringing temporary relief from heat but potentially causing traffic congestion, waterlogging, and disruptions in daily life.
Rajasthan Weather Tomorrow: Rain Alert in Several Districts
Rajasthan will witness rainfall across multiple districts including Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, Bhilwara, Bundi, Pali, and Barmer with thunderstorms and gusty winds expected to bring a temperature drop of around 2 to 3°C, and while this may provide temporary comfort from rising temperatures, it could also disrupt travel and outdoor activities in affected regions.
South India Weather Update: Rain Likely in Kerala, Telangana & Andhra
Southern states are also expected to experience weather activity with Kerala and Karnataka likely to receive rainfall between 20 and 21 March, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana witnessing rain until 23 March, and Tamil Nadu and Puducherry facing thunderstorms and lightning, and although rainfall intensity may be relatively lower compared to northern regions, lightning and gusty winds still pose safety risks.
IMD Advisory for Farmers and Residents
The IMD has advised farmers and residents to remain cautious during this period of unstable weather as strong winds, hailstorms, and lightning may cause damage to crops, infrastructure, and daily life, and precautionary measures such as securing loose objects, avoiding open fields during thunderstorms, staying indoors during strong winds, unplugging electrical devices during lightning, and regularly following official weather updates can help reduce risks, while farmers are encouraged to protect harvested crops and delay irrigation during rainfall events to minimize losses.
