Thunderstorms set to erupt daily through early week will work to cut into the heat that has surged back with a vengeance across northern India, including New Delhi.

After peaking at 38-40 C (100-104 F) last week in the National Capital Region (NCR), temperatures rose to between 35 and 36 C (middle 90s F) over the weekend.

Such temperatures are still above the normal high of around 33 C (92 F), but there will remain an opportunity for temporary cooling daily from showers and thunderstorms.

"April is still the dry season in northern India in places like the NCR, where typical rainfall for the month is about 6-7 mm (0.25 of an inch)," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said. "However, a storm system trying to temper the recent heat will get a few spotty showers and thunderstorms to develop."

The thunderstorms will mainly occur during the afternoon and evening hours across northern India.

Thunderstorms are often referred to as nature’s air conditioners since they pull down cooler air to the surface which leads to a dramatic temperature drop.

The thunderstorm that moved through the NCR on Friday evening caused temperatures at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to drop from 32 to 23 C (90 to 73 F) in 30 minutes.

However, such cooling is only temporary, and the spotty nature of the thunderstorms cannot guarantee that all of northern India will enjoy a drop in temperatures. In fact, a thunderstorm can bring cooling to one part of the NCR while missing others.

Even brief cooling will be welcome by residents dealing with the unseasonable heat and taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

"Any heavy thunderstorm can also ease the poor air quality," AccuWeather Meteorologist and Air Quality Blogger Faith Eherts said. "The relief may only last several hours before conditions start to deteriorate again."

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Thunderstorms will not be confined to just northern India.

"Afternoon thunderstorms will also develop across eastern and southern areas, especially over the higher ground, with the buildup of heat and ample moisture coming in from the Bay of Bengal," Houk said.

There is concern for the heaviest downpours across these areas to trigger isolated flash flooding.

While any thunderstorm across India will provide generally welcome rain and heat relief, lightning will endanger anyone outdoors.

"Those with outdoor plans need to keep an eye to the sky and seek shelter with the first crack of thunder and sighting of lightning bolts," Houk said.

As seen in the NCR on Friday evening, gusty winds kicked up by the thunderstorms can lead to blowing dust and poor visibility for motorists where it has been dry recently. The winds can also be strong enough to down tree limbs and cause power outages in a few communities.

Thunderstorms, however, will largely avoid Gujarat and southern Rajasthan, allowing the heat wave to persist. Temperatures in Ahmadabad are expected to continue climbing to around 40 C (104 F) daily into the beginning of the week.

If enough clouds cover the sky, temperatures could be held to 32-34 C (lower 90s F) on one or two days in the NCR.

A rebound in temperatures will quickly follow later next week as the thunderstorm chances diminish across northern India.

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