Chandigarh: The monsoon remained active over Punjab and Chandigarh on Friday, bringing showers to several areas and easing the recent heat and humidity. The Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, has forecast intermittent rainfall across both regions over the coming days, with the spell likely to continue through August 12.
Chandigarh is expected to remain partly cloudy, while several parts of Punjab may receive light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms. Despite the continuing rain, the weather department has not issued any warning of heavy rainfall for the state at present.
Chandigarh records 12.8 mm rain
The recent showers have brought down temperatures in Chandigarh. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 32.4°C, around 1°C below normal, while the minimum settled at 24.1°C, which was 2.6°C below the seasonal average.
The Chandigarh Meteorological Centre recorded 12.8 mm of rain over the past 24 hours, while the airport area received 38.8 mm. Since the beginning of the monsoon season on June 1, the city has accumulated 412.6 mm of rainfall.
Temperatures are expected to remain relatively moderate, with maximum readings likely to stay between 32°C and 35°C over the next five days.
Bathinda records highest temperature
Across Punjab, the average maximum temperature remained below normal by around 1.9°C.
Bathinda Airport recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 36.2°C. On the other hand, Ludhiana recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 23.8°C, nearly 3°C below normal.
Several districts also received rain during the previous 24 hours. Ballowal Saunkhri in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar recorded the highest rainfall at 18.4 mm, followed by Hoshiarpur with 18 mm.
Fatehgarh Sahib received 12 mm, Ludhiana 11.5 mm, the Bhakra Dam area in Rupnagar 6.5 mm and Barnala 3 mm of rainfall.
Showers likely over the coming week
The latest seven-day forecast indicates that the monsoon will continue to produce intermittent rain over different parts of Punjab. Similar conditions are expected to persist until around August 13, although the intensity is not expected to remain high.
Chandigarh may also receive light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in some areas over the weekend.
For now, the absence of a heavy-rain warning suggests that the weather system is likely to bring periodic showers rather than an intense rainfall episode. Meanwhile, residents can expect relatively cooler conditions as temperatures remain below normal in several parts of Punjab and Chandigarh.
