The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a yellow alert — warning of thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds ranging between 40 and 50 kmph, accompanied by rain at isolated places — for Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana from Monday (May 11) through Thursday (May 14). The warning kicks in after a dry Saturday and a largely settled Sunday.
The forecast for the Tricity — Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula — shows partly cloudy skies with no rain on Sunday (May 10), before the weather turns active. Monday and Tuesday carry the sharpest threat, with thunderstorm, lightning, gusty winds and rain on the cards. Conditions ease from Wednesday onward, though skies will remain partly overcast. Friday and the coming weekend are expected to be dry, with no weather warning in force.
Yellow alert Monday to Thursday
IMD’s seven-day outlook flags no weather warning for either Punjab or Haryana on Saturday and Sunday. The yellow alert activates from Tuesday, May 11, and holds through Friday, May 14, for both states and Chandigarh, with thunderstorm and lightning likely at isolated locations alongside gusty winds gusting to 40-50 kmph. The alert lapses by Saturday, May 15, which is forecast to be dry.
Temperatures set to climb
IMD’s general forecast notes a rise of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the next three days, with no large change expected thereafter. Nights, too, will grow progressively warmer. The five-day Tricity forecast shows maximum temperatures holding around 35-37°C, while minimum temperatures will range between 22 and 25°C — signalling that both days and nights are trending hotter as May deepens.
Past 24 hours: Dry, with gusty spells
The past 24 hours remained dry across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, with gusty winds reported at isolated places in both states. In Chandigarh, the maximum temperature on Saturday settled at 35.1°C — three degrees below normal — while the minimum was recorded at 21.6°C, also three degrees below normal. The city logged no rainfall during the day. Maximum relative humidity stood at 67 per cent and minimum at 40 per cent. Chandigarh’s seasonal rainfall since March 1 stands at 100.8 mm — a hefty 162.5 per cent above the seasonal normal, reflecting the active pre-monsoon weather the region has witnessed.
Punjab temperatures rise
Across Punjab, the average maximum temperature rose by 1.6°C compared to Friday but remained three degrees below normal for the state. Bathinda logged the highest maximum temperature in Punjab at 39.1°C. The average minimum temperature rose by 1.4°C and remained near normal across the state. Bhakra Dam recorded the lowest minimum at 19.7°C. Mohali clocked a maximum of 34.2°C and a minimum of 23.5°C.
Haryana temperatures also up
In Haryana, the average maximum temperature edged up by 1.2°C but remained appreciably below normal, trailing the seasonal average by 3.2°C. Sirsa was the hottest station in the state, recording a maximum of 39.4°C. The average minimum temperature in Haryana rose by 1.8°C but stayed below normal by 2.1°C, with Rohtak recording the lowest minimum at 18.2°C. Ambala’s maximum was 36°C, while Karnal recorded 34.6°C.
