Chandigarh: The monsoon momentum is gradually decelerating across Punjab, leading to a notable deficit in seasonal rainfall. According to the latest meteorological forecasts, light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in several districts across the northern and central regions of the province on Sunday, but precipitation activities are projected to decrease further starting Monday. For the next few days, most districts in southwestern Punjab are expected to experience relatively dry weather conditions, compounding the seasonal moisture shortage.
Meteorological department data reveals that Punjab was historically expected to receive a normal average of 104.1 millimetres of rainfall between June 1 and July 11 for this rainy season. However, actual recorded rainfall reached a mere 79.7 millimetres during this timeframe, culminating in a significant 23 percent deficit compared to the long-term average. Consequently, the province has been designated under the red category based on these deficient rainfall conditions, presenting a sharp contrast to neighbouring states that have registered normal or above-normal precipitation during the same period.
Weather officials have mapped out the specific regions likely to experience atmospheric changes over the weekend. A yellow alert for rainfall has been officially issued for the districts of Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar, where the probability of precipitation remains the highest. Additionally, scattered rainfall is anticipated in specific pockets of Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Patiala, while the southwestern expanses brace for prolonged dryness.