Chandigarh: After enduring several days of relentless heatwave conditions, residents of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana are likely to witness a dramatic change in weather as thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and powerful squalls are expected to sweep across the region over the next three days.
Cloud cover and light drizzle early Thursday morning brought the first signs of relief to the Tricity, with temperatures dipping noticeably compared to the intense heat recorded a day earlier. Chandigarh experienced cooler conditions under overcast skies as intermittent showers and breezy weather replaced the scorching sunshine that had pushed temperatures beyond 43 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for multiple districts, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour, lightning activity and isolated hailstorms from Thursday onward.
Officials indicated that Friday could witness the most severe weather activity during the current spell. Forecasts suggest widespread rainfall across several parts of Punjab and Haryana, along with violent squalls, thunderstorms and the possibility of moderate to heavy showers in isolated locations.
Some districts in Punjab and Haryana have also been placed under a red alert due to the likelihood of intense storm activity and heavy rain. Authorities have advised people to remain indoors during severe weather conditions and avoid taking shelter under trees or weak structures during thunderstorms.
Meteorologists explained that the recent rise in nighttime temperatures and humidity levels signalled the arrival of moisture-laden winds and unstable atmospheric conditions favourable for storm development.
While daytime temperatures are expected to gradually decline over the next few days, weather experts warned that isolated heatwave conditions may still persist in certain pockets before the rain system fully settles across the region.
According to forecasts, Chandigarh and nearby areas may continue receiving intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms through the weekend, with temperatures expected to fall significantly compared to earlier in the week. Sunday is likely to remain comparatively cooler before dry weather begins returning early next week.
Emergency services and local administrations across the region have been placed on alert to deal with possible disruptions caused by strong winds, waterlogging or hailstorm-related damage.
