Chandigarh: After several days of showers and unseasonably cool conditions, Punjab and Chandigarh are expected to witness a gradual return of humid weather as rainfall activity weakens across the region. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that sticky conditions could persist until June 19, although residents are expected to remain free from severe heatwave conditions.
On Saturday, the weather department issued a rain advisory for eight districts—Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala and Mansa—where light to moderate showers may occur at isolated places. However, with the prevailing western disturbance moving away, rainfall is expected to reduce significantly over the coming days.
The recent spell of rain has brought considerable relief from soaring temperatures. Daytime temperatures across Punjab dropped sharply, remaining as much as 8.2 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average. Bathinda recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 35.4 degrees Celsius despite the cooler conditions.
Meteorologists have indicated that temperatures will begin climbing once again over the next five days, with an expected increase of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Cloudy skies and occasional thunderstorms may continue in some areas due to changing atmospheric conditions over Pakistan and western Rajasthan, but widespread rainfall is unlikely.
Punjab has also recorded surplus rainfall so far this month. Between June 1 and June 13, the state received an average of 18.2 mm of rain against the normal 14.1 mm, registering nearly 29 per cent excess precipitation. SBS Nagar emerged as the wettest district with 69.1 mm rainfall, followed by Ludhiana with 60 mm and Faridkot with 40 mm. Tarn Taran reported exceptionally high rainfall, recording over 240 per cent above normal levels.
The cooler weather has also reflected in electricity consumption across the state. Official figures show that power demand remained relatively moderate at around 11,498 MW on June 13. Punjab generated approximately 4,200 MW of electricity while meeting the remaining requirement through allocation from the central power pool.
According to the latest forecast, scattered showers are expected in parts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Patiala and Mohali on June 15. Rain activity is likely to shift towards the southern districts on June 16 before expanding to several central and western districts again on June 17.
Weather officials have advised residents to stay alert for changing conditions, especially during periods of thunderstorm activity, while also preparing for rising humidity levels as the effect of the recent rain spell begins to fade.
