Delhi's weather has been notably unpredictable, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting a series of weather events on a recent Friday. The day began with strong winds exceeding 20 km/h, which stirred up a dust storm, reducing visibility and pushing the air quality index (AQI) to 266, categorized as poor. By the afternoon, conditions improved slightly with cooler air, but thunderstorms and moderate rain arrived in the evening, prompting the IMD to issue an orange alert for potential thunderstorms and wind gusts of 40–50 km/h. This erratic weather is primarily caused by western disturbances, weather systems that travel from the Mediterranean and Central Asia, bringing moisture and instability. Mahesh Palawat, president of the weather agency Skymet, noted that these disturbances are particularly impactful during the pre-monsoon months of March and April, creating conditions for hailstorms and lightning. The IMD forecasts continued unsettled weather with cloudy skies, light rain, and thunderstorms expected over the weekend, with temperatures predicted to drop to 29–31°C, below seasonal norms. Clearer skies are anticipated early next week, though further disturbances may follow.