Heavy rainfall, hailstones, and strong gusty winds struck the Delhi-NCR area this week [1, 2].
The sudden weather shift provided critical relief for residents battling an ongoing heatwave. However, the intensity of the storm exceeded some initial forecasts, leading to waterlogged streets and disruptions in the capital and surrounding regions.
Residents in Ghaziabad, Noida, and the area surrounding the Delhi airport experienced the brunt of the atmospheric activity [1, 5, 6]. A western disturbance triggered the thunderstorms, which brought both the hail and the heavy rain [4].
Wind speeds were a point of discrepancy between forecasts and observations. The India Meteorological Department initially forecast light rainfall with gusty winds of 40-50 km/h [7]. Actual wind speeds were reported to have reached up to 70 km/h [3].
Reports regarding the exact timing of the event vary across sources. Some accounts place the hailstorm on Thursday evening [1], while other reports indicate storms occurred on Wednesday morning [3] or in the early hours of Sunday [6].
The storms left several areas of the National Capital Region waterlogged [2]. The India Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for 25 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, as the weather system continues to move [3].
“Actual wind speeds were reported to have reached up to 70 km/h.”
The discrepancy between the IMD's forecast of 40-50 km/h winds and the observed 70 km/h gusts highlights the volatility of western disturbances during the pre-monsoon season. While these events provide necessary cooling during heatwaves, the intensity of the rainfall and wind often overwhelms urban drainage systems in the NCR, leading to systemic waterlogging.
