Chandigarh: Punjab is experiencing another intense spell of heatwave conditions, with the maximum temperature rising by 1.8 degrees Celsius on Saturday to settle near seasonal averages. Bathinda recorded the highest temperature in the state, with the mercury touching 39.5 degrees Celsius. However, a significant weather shift is on the horizon as an active Western Disturbance hovering over Punjab and Chandigarh is expected to intensify on June 21. This meteorological system is projected to bring vital relief in the form of widespread rain and strong gusty winds blowing at speeds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour across 18 districts of the state.
Despite the broader atmospheric system, the Meteorological Department has specified a targeted rain forecast for key districts, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Moga, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala, Mansa, and Sangrur. This transition follows a predominantly dry weather spell observed on Friday and Saturday due to the early stages of the Western Disturbance. Prior to this shift, Thursday saw a notable temperature surge of 1.2 degrees Celsius across the state, where Bathinda had emerged as the hottest pocket with a scorching maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius.
Other major urban centres also recorded high daytime temperatures during the dry spell, with Patiala hitting 40.0 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Pathankot at 39.5 degrees Celsius, Roopnagar at 39.0 degrees Celsius, Firozpur at 38.7 degrees Celsius, Fazilka at 38.4 degrees Celsius, Amritsar at 37.6 degrees Celsius, and Ludhiana at 37.2 degrees Celsius. Nighttime conditions offered minimal respite as the minimum temperature also witnessed a collective rise of 1.1 degrees Celsius across the region. Amid the warming trend, Pathankot managed to log the lowest minimum temperature in the state, dropping to a relatively cooler 24 degrees Celsius before the expected arrival of the rain-bearing winds.
