Rain and hail hit Delhi NCR including Noida and Ghaziabad, IMD issues yellow and orange alerts, western disturbance brings relief from heat but dust storms may worsen air quality
Several parts of Delhi-NCR receive rainfall and hailstorm this evening.
Rain Hits Delhi-NCR: A spell of showers lashed parts of New Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday, bringing much-needed relief from the relentless heat. The downpour was preceded by strong winds, which swept through the national capital and its adjoining areas of Ghaziabad and Noida.
Dark clouds gathered rapidly, with rain and hail already reported in areas like the Delhi-Noida border, accompanied by gusty winds. Parts of Sahibabad in Ghaziabad district also received a hailstorm this evening.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning of very light to light rainfall along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching up to 50 kmph, and an orange alert for Noida and Ghaziabad, with heavy rain and thunderstorms predicted in the evening.
Parts of Rajasthan also witnessed light rain and drizzle amid heatwave conditions, bringing some relief as strong winds pushed the temperatures down.
According to the India Meteorological Department centre in Jaipur, isolated places recorded warm nights, while some areas experienced thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and light rainfall in the last 24 hours till Thursday morning.
Kota recorded the highest rainfall at 20.6 mm during the period.
The weather office said maximum temperatures in most parts of the state have slightly declined and are hovering between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius, which is around normal levels.
A further drop of 1-2 degrees in day temperatures is likely over the next couple of days, providing partial relief from heatwave conditions, it added.
Why This Weather Change?
According to the weather office, a western disturbance is driving the sudden shift in conditions across Delhi and neighbouring states.
Experts have also warned Delhi-NCR to brace for possible dust storms over the coming days.
The shifting weather pattern has been linked to a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and adjoining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. According to experts, the system may carry dust from Rajasthan’s desert regions towards Delhi, potentially worsening air quality even as temperatures ease.
The dual impact of cooling rains and gusty winds is expected to bring daytime temperatures down noticeably in affected areas, offering a temporary break before conditions potentially stabilise again.
April 30, 2026, 16:18 IST
Read More
