The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a special weather bulletin warning of severe heatwave conditions across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana through Thursday, even as it forecast widespread rain, thunderstorm, hailstorm, and gusty winds of 60-70 kmph from Friday, bringing the first significant relief in days.
Weather remained dry across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana in the past 24 hours. Heatwave conditions persisted at a few places in Haryana, while warm night conditions were recorded at isolated places in the state.
SEVERE HEATWAVE TIGHTENS GRIP
The special bulletin warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions across the entire region from Tuesday through Thursday. Temperatures over central, southern, and southwestern Punjab and the whole of Haryana are likely to hover between 45°C and 47°C over the next two days. The rest of Chandigarh and Punjab will sizzle in the range of 42-45°C. No significant change is expected on Wednesday before a sharp fall of 5-7°C sets in over the subsequent three days, the bulletin said. Heatwave conditions are expected to abate from Friday onwards.
BATHINDA, SIRSA HOTTEST IN REGION
Bathinda was the hottest station in Punjab on Tuesday at 45.8°C — slightly above Monday’s 44.7°C. The state’s average maximum temperature edged down marginally by 0.1°C but remained 2.4°C above normal. The lowest minimum temperature in Punjab was 22.1°C, recorded at Amritsar.
In Haryana, Sirsa scorched at 46°C — just a shade below Monday’s 46.2°C — with the state average still 2.8°C above normal. The lowest minimum was 23.2°C at Rohtak.
CHANDIGARH FARES BETTER
Chandigarh on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 41.6°C — 1.5°C above normal but 1.1°C lower than Monday’s. The minimum temperature was 22.7°C, a notable 3°C below normal, indicating a slightly less oppressive night. Relative humidity ranged between a parched 10 per cent and 59 per cent.
NEXT FIVE DAYS FOR TRICITY
Wednesday will bring mainly clear skies and the fiercest conditions of the current forecast window, with maximum temperature forecast at 43°C and minimum at 24°C.
Thursday marks the pivot: partly cloudy skies arrive with thunderstorm and light rain possible, while the maximum eases to 40°C and the minimum rises to 26°C. The mercury then falls sharply — to 37°C on Friday, 35°C on Saturday, and 36°C on Sunday — each day with partly cloudy skies.
SEVEN-DAY ALERT OUTLOOK
The orange alert for heatwave to severe heatwave at a few places remains in force on Wednesday. Thursday will carry a simultaneous orange alert for both residual heat wave at isolated places and thunderstorm with lightning with gusty winds of 60-70 kmph and hailstorm at isolated places — a dangerous combination that residents and farmers must prepare for.
From Friday, fairly widespread rain sweeps the region — Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana alike — accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning with gusty winds of 60-70 kmph and hailstorm at isolated places. An orange alert is in force. Light to moderate rain is expected at many places on both Friday and Saturday, the special bulletin confirmed.
The orange alert continues on Saturday but the hailstorm threat recedes and gusty winds ease to 40-50 kmph. By Sunday, the alert downgrades to yellow, with only isolated rain, thunderstorm, and 40-50 kmph gusts. From Monday, dry conditions return with no active weather warning issued.
CHANDIGARH REMAINS DRY
There was no rain in the past 24 hours or during afternoon hours. Seasonal rainfall from March 1 stood at 105 mm, which is 101.1 per cent of normal. Sunset on Wednesday is at 7.16 pm and sunrise on Thursday will be at 5.23 am.
