Chandigarh: Residents across Punjab and Chandigarh woke up to an unusual start on May 3, as a pitch-dark sky at around 7:45 AM resembled pre-dawn conditions despite the peak of summer. The dramatic change was followed by widespread hailstorms, gusty winds, and rainfall sweeping through large parts of the region, bringing much-needed relief from the ongoing heatwave.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘Yellow Alert’ for eight districts, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. Areas likely to be affected include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Rupnagar. Wind speeds in these areas are expected to reach 40–50 km/h, along with light to moderate rainfall.
A slight dip in temperature—around one degree Celsius—has been recorded, bringing conditions closer to seasonal averages. However, Bathinda remained the hottest location, with the mercury touching 40.2°C. Other major cities such as Ludhiana, Patiala, and Amritsar recorded temperatures between 37°C and 38°C, with Ludhiana witnessing the sharpest rise of nearly 3 degrees.
Meteorologists attribute the sudden shift to an active Western Disturbance interacting with upper-level winds, along with a cyclonic circulation over parts of Haryana. These systems are expected to keep weather conditions unstable over the next few days.
An ‘Orange Alert’ has been issued for May 4 and 5, indicating a higher likelihood of intense weather activity, including thunderstorms, hail, and stronger wind speeds reaching up to 60 km/h in some districts. A ‘Yellow Alert’ will remain in place on May 6, while intermittent rainfall is forecast to continue until May 8.
According to officials at the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, temperatures may rise slightly over the next 48 hours before dropping again by 3 to 4 degrees due to continued rainfall and cloud cover. Winds of up to 40 km/h are also expected in isolated areas on May 7.
The forecast for the coming days suggests widespread weather activity, with several districts likely to experience thunderstorms, lightning, and varying intensities of rainfall. Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly during periods of strong winds and lightning.
The sudden weather turnaround has brought temporary respite from the scorching heat but also raised concerns over crop damage and local disruptions due to hailstorms and gusty winds.
