People in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR)—which includes Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida—experienced sudden light rain, drizzle and a fresh breeze on Wednesday morning. This provided relief from the unseasonal heat, which had raised temperatures in mid-February to early summer levels.
India Meteorological Department (**IMD**) confirmed that light rain and drizzle occurred over NCR and adjoining parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, caused by an active **Western Disturbance** impacting northwest India. This system brought moisture, which formed clouds, rain, and caused instability when it collided with warm plains air.
IMD has issued **Yellow Alert** for Delhi-NCR, warning:
– Intermittent very light rain in the morning and afternoon.
– Rain with thunder and lightning at some places.
– Strong winds of 30–40 kmph, which may cause some disruption in traffic or outdoor activities.
As the system moves towards the east, conditions are expected to improve by the evening, and the sky will gradually clear.
**Effect on temperature**: The temperature dropped significantly due to rain. Maximum temperatures were around 26–28°C (earlier’s high), and lows were around 13–15°C. On 17 February, the temperature in Delhi was recorded at 30.9°C (6.5°C above normal at Safdarjung Observatory). By the beginning of the week (around 16–17 February), it had reached 31.6°C—the hottest February day in five years and the first to cross 30°C+ in half a decade.
The rain also led to a slight improvement in air quality (though the AQI remained ‘poor’ in some reports). The IMD predicts that the heat will gradually resume later this week, and no major and prolonged rains are expected. This phenomenon reflects the changing winter patterns due to the impact of Western Disturbances, which has brought some relief from the trend of warmer than normal temperatures.
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