Over the past several days, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have been drenched by heavy overnight rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds, causing temperatures to dip and triggering orange alerts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The primary driver behind this unusually cloudy, wet spell is a western disturbance interacting with moisture-laden air over northern India. Closer to the Himalayas, fresh snow in higher altitudes has reinforced cold winds that now penetrate into the plains.  Additionally, shifting climatic patterns are making western disturbances more active outside their usual window, leading to unseasonal rains in October.

So, will winter come early? Many meteorologists believe La Niña conditions could amplify these disturbances and bring colder conditions sooner than usual across northern India. Still, experts caution that global warming may offset such cooling trends, making forecasts less certain. 

For now, NCR residents should expect more rain, cooler days, and a possibility of an earlier onset of winter chill - though how early remains to be seen.