Chandigarh: A shift in weather conditions has been observed across Punjab and Chandigarh, with light drizzle and gusty winds bringing a brief spell of relief from rising temperatures. The Meteorological Department has predicted rainfall in several districts on April 1 and 2, followed by a storm alert later this week.
According to officials, light to moderate rain is likely in nearly a dozen districts on Tuesday. Areas expected to receive scattered showers include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and Tarn Taran. Skies are expected to remain cloudy across much of the region, including Chandigarh.
While no severe weather warning has been issued for the next two days, authorities have cautioned that conditions may intensify from April 3. Alerts have been sounded for strong winds and possible storms during this period, prompting residents to stay updated on forecasts.
Despite the recent change in weather, temperatures remain above normal. The average temperature has risen by around 2.2 degrees Celsius, currently standing about 2.4 degrees higher than seasonal levels. Patiala recorded the highest maximum temperature at 34.8°C.
Data for March indicates a rainfall shortfall across the state. Punjab recorded approximately 16.3 mm of rain last month, falling short of the normal average of 21.8 mm—a deficit of nearly 25 percent. Among districts, Rupnagar and Pathankot received relatively higher rainfall, while Muktsar, Bathinda and Fazilka experienced significant deficits.
Meteorologists say the upcoming spell of rain could help balance the deficit to some extent, though changing weather patterns continue to impact seasonal trends across the region.
