Weather Alert: Thunderstorms, Rain, and Hail Forecast Across Multiple Indian States Till May 8; Odisha Faces Severe Weather Today

New Delhi, May 5, 2025 — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a comprehensive weather alert warning of thunderstorms, rain, hailstorms, and lightning across various regions of India, including Delhi-NCR, until May 8. A particularly severe warning has been issued for Odisha, where heavy rainfall is likely today.

Meteorologist Dr. Sanjeev Dwivedi confirmed that the most affected districts in Odisha include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Gajapati, all of which are under a heavy rain and hailstorm alert. Similar weather conditions are expected to persist tomorrow, with lighter rainfall forecast for May 7 and 8.

Heavy Rains and Thunderstorms in Eastern and Central India

Widespread weather disturbances continue to impact eastern and central India. According to IMD reports, storm activity—accompanied by winds of up to 70–100 km/h—was observed in eastern Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, and parts of central India in the past 24 hours. Dust storms were also reported in isolated areas.

Additionally, Himachal Pradesh witnessed intense weather events under an Orange Alert, including heavy rainfall and hail. A tragic incident occurred in Chamba’s Cheli village, where a cloudburst at Dondra Nala led to the death of an elderly man, whose body has since been recovered.

The plains of West Bengal, Bihar, and the northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Tripura, also experienced thunderstorms. Parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana reported similar storm activity.

Western Disturbance to Persist Till May 10

According to weather experts, a Western Disturbance is currently active over northern Pakistan, extending into Punjab and northwest Rajasthan. This system is expected to cause moderate rainfall and gusty winds across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh through May 10.

Shimla recorded heavy rain and hail this afternoon, while Lahaul received fresh snowfall along with showers in the surrounding regions. The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority has instructed all district administrations to remain on high alert. Precautionary measures, including advisories for schools and the suspension of tourism in high Himalayan zones, have been issued to ensure public safety.

Temperature Drops and Public Safety Advisories

The widespread storms have led to a noticeable drop in temperatures across affected regions. Hailstorms were also reported in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and western Rajasthan. In view of these developments, the IMD continues to monitor weather patterns and has urged citizens to follow safety protocols, especially during lightning and storm warnings.

Residents in high-risk zones are advised to:

• Stay indoors during severe weather.

• Avoid taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms.

• Monitor updates from IMD through official channels and mobile apps.