Pre-Monsoon To Start With A Bang Over Northern Plains: Dust Storm-Hailstorm Likely

Key Takeaways:

• Northern plains are witnessing early-season heat, with Rajasthan crossing 40°C and Delhi nearing 37°C on March 11.
• Pre-monsoon thunderstorm activity will begin from North Rajasthan on March 14.
• Dust storms, thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds are likely across Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on March 15.
• More widespread activity is expected between March 16 and March 22, bringing relief from rising temperatures.

Entire northern plains have been experiencing excessive heat, a little early in the season. Border posts of Rajasthan breached the 40°C mark, and most other parts also recorded temperatures well above normal. Even the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi registered day temperatures ranging in the mid-30s. Delhi nearly reached 37°C on 11th March, the highest during the first half of March in the last 15 years. Dry weather conditions led to the accumulation of heat, which is generally followed by thunderstorm–dust storm activity, doing the balancing act.

The opening spell of pre-monsoon activity will commence soon, starting with North Rajasthan tomorrow and spreading to cover large parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi on Sunday, 15th March 2026. More of this activity will follow in the next week. The spread and intensity will increase towards the next weekend, between 20th and 23rd March 2026.

The pre-monsoon activity gets compounded with hazardous weather conditions like dust storms, thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, and is trailed by showers to settle the dust. Lightning, hailstorms, and strong winds carry damaging potential, and the opening spell always remains deceptive in terms of intensity, spread, and duration.

The places at risk will include Ganganagar, Anupgarh, Hanumangarh, Suratgarh, Mahajan, Padampur, Churu, and adjoining parts in Rajasthan. The southern districts of the state may escape the fury of weather. Locations in Punjab and Haryana bearing fear of inclement weather activity will include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ropar, Chandigarh, Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, Bhiwani, Kurukshetra, Panipat, and Sonipat. Capital city Delhi and suburbs will also face the threat of stormy conditions, more intense in the evening and night hours on Sunday, 15th March 2026.

The opening spell of pre-monsoon may last just for a day. However, it is likely to be followed with increased vigour and punch during the next week between 16th and 22nd March 2026. The prolonged spell will surely provide some relief from the rising mercury during the second half of March for the northern plains.