Rain and hail showers swept through Delhi and the National Capital Region on Thursday afternoon, providing temporary relief from a multi-day heatwave [1].
The sudden weather shift is significant because the region had been enduring scorching temperatures. The arrival of a western disturbance disrupted the heatwave, offering a necessary reprieve for millions of residents in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad [1, 2].
The India Meteorological Department issued varying alerts for the region. An orange alert was issued for Noida and Ghaziabad, while Delhi was placed under a yellow alert [2], though some reports indicated a higher red alert for the capital [3].
Wind gusts reached up to 60 km/h [3], accompanying moderate to heavy rainfall. Hail was reported in both Ghaziabad [1] and Noida [2]. One local resident in Ghaziabad said, "We are seeing hail in parts of Ghaziabad for the first time this season" [1].
Dr. Rajesh Kumar of the India Meteorological Department said, "The western disturbance is expected to bring moderate to heavy rain across Delhi‑NCR, which will provide much‑needed relief from the ongoing heatwave" [2].
Meteorologists expect the cooling effect to persist shortly after the storms. Anjali Sharma, a meteorologist, said, "Temperatures are likely to drop by four to five degrees Celsius after the showers" [2].
The weather system brought a mix of dust storms and gusty winds before the rain began to fall, effectively scrubbing the air and lowering the ambient temperature across the metropolitan area [3].
“"Temperatures are likely to drop by four to five degrees Celsius after the showers,"”
The occurrence of hail and significant temperature drops in late April suggests a strong western disturbance, which typically provides a critical break in the pre-monsoon heat. While the relief is temporary, such volatility in weather patterns can impact local infrastructure and agricultural outputs in the surrounding NCR districts.
