The India Meteorological Department issued multiple weather alerts for Delhi-NCR as rain, thunderstorms, and hail hit the region on Tuesday [1].
These sudden weather shifts are critical for the region as they provide necessary relief from an ongoing heatwave, though they bring immediate risks of property damage and travel disruption.
The storm system is driven by a Western Disturbance that has brought rain and thunderstorms across North India [2]. In the national capital region, the IMD has deployed a tiered alert system to warn residents of varying severity. A red alert was issued for Meerut and the outer NCR [3], while Noida and Ghaziabad were placed under an orange alert [4].
Reports regarding the specific alert level for Delhi vary between sources. Some reports indicate the city remains under a yellow alert [5], while others suggest it is under an orange alert [3]. Regardless of the specific tier, the IMD said that the region could experience severe thunderstorms.
Wind speeds are expected to be a significant factor in the storm's impact. According to reports, wind speeds could reach 40–50 km/h [6]. These gusty winds, combined with dust storms, have already been felt across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad [7].
The weather pattern has brought a cooler morning to the region, with rain lashing several areas [8]. The IMD said that the system is expected to bring relief from the preceding high temperatures, though the intensity of the hail and wind remains a concern for urban infrastructure [2].
Residents in affected areas have been advised to monitor official updates as the storm system moves through the region.
“Wind speeds could reach 40–50 km/h”
The arrival of a Western Disturbance in May signals a volatile transition in North India's weather. While the precipitation mitigates the dangerous temperatures of a heatwave, the presence of red and orange alerts indicates a high probability of severe weather events, such as hailstorms, which can cause significant damage to agriculture and urban power grids.
