Chandigarh: Residents of Punjab and Chandigarh may finally get some respite from the prevailing heat as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, rain and strong winds across several parts of the region on Saturday. A Yellow Alert has been issued, warning of unstable weather conditions through the day.
According to weather officials, wind speeds could touch 40 to 50 kmph in many districts, accompanied by lightning and moderate rainfall at isolated places. Authorities have advised people to avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorms and stay away from trees, electric poles and open fields as a precaution.
The districts likely to witness changing weather include Mohali, Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, besides Chandigarh. While rainfall is expected to provide temporary relief, meteorologists say widespread monsoon activity is still a few days away.
The weather department has indicated that no major alerts have been issued for June 28 to June 30, suggesting relatively stable weather during that period. Although isolated drizzles and cloudy conditions cannot be ruled out, heavy rainfall is not anticipated over the next few days.
Officials expect weather conditions to become more favourable for the southwest monsoon from the beginning of July. Forecast models indicate that rain-bearing systems may become more active around July 1 and 2, paving the way for the monsoon to advance into Punjab and Chandigarh during the first week of the month.
Meanwhile, electricity consumption in Punjab continues to remain high due to persistent heat and humidity. Power demand crossed 15,400 MW during the morning hours, with supply being managed through a combination of central allocation and generation from state-owned and private thermal power stations.
Despite the possibility of showers today, temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged over the next few days. Meteorologists believe a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures is likely only after monsoon activity intensifies, bringing sustained rainfall across the region.
