Chandigarh: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh Orange Alert for Punjab, predicting a significant weather shift that will impact all 22 districts over the next 48 hours. According to the latest forecast, a strong Western Disturbance is expected to trigger widespread rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 km/h. Residents across the state have been advised to take precautions, as the sudden change in weather could lead to localized flooding and potential damage to standing wheat crops currently nearing harvest.
The weather department has specifically highlighted 12 districts where the conditions are expected to be most severe, with a high probability of lightning and hailstorms. These include Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Mohali, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, and Jalandhar. While these areas brace for hail, the remaining 10 districts—including Ludhiana, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Mansa—are likely to experience heavy cloud cover accompanied by thunderstorms and high-velocity winds.
In terms of precipitation, the IMD predicts light to moderate rainfall across 14 districts. Regions such as Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Rupnagar are expected to receive the highest rainfall totals, while scattered showers will affect Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Fazilka. The agricultural department has expressed concern over the timing of this storm, as hailstorms and heavy winds can cause “lodging” of the wheat crop, leading to significant yield losses for farmers just as the procurement season kicks off.
State authorities have urged commuters to exercise caution during the peak wind hours and advised farmers to delay any planned irrigation or chemical sprays until the weather stabilizes. The Orange Alert serves as a critical warning for district administrations to remain on standby for emergency responses, particularly in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging. With the storm system moving in from the west, the intensity of the rain is expected to peak by Friday evening before gradually subsiding over the weekend.
