Chandigarh: Another spell of rain is likely across parts of Punjab and Chandigarh today as the monsoon remains active in the region. Chandigarh is expected to remain partly cloudy, with one or two spells of thundershowers possible during the day.
The average maximum temperature in Punjab has increased marginally by 0.3°C. Bathinda remained the warmest location, recording a maximum temperature of 38°C.
Gurdaspur witnessed the heaviest rainfall in the state on Thursday, receiving 47.5 mm. Rupnagar recorded 12 mm, while Ludhiana received 9.6 mm. Ferozepur, Patiala and Jalandhar also experienced light showers, along with areas around the Bhakra Dam.
Rainfall outlook across Punjab
The Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rain in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar and Mohali.
Isolated showers are possible in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala. Scattered rainfall has also been forecast for Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala, Mansa and Sangrur.
Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mohali, Sangrur and Hoshiarpur did not receive rainfall on Thursday.
Weather systems keeping monsoon active
The monsoon continues to influence Punjab and Haryana. The monsoon trough is currently extending through Amritsar, while a Western Disturbance remains positioned near northern Pakistan and Jammu.
A weather system that had been affecting Haryana has moved towards north-western Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the system over Punjab has weakened. Despite this, cloudy conditions and spells of light to moderate rain are expected at several locations.
Punjab’s power demand crosses 13,700 MW
Electricity consumption in Punjab remained high on the evening of August 20. The state’s power demand stood at 13,705 MW.
Punjab’s own power stations generated 5,027 MW, while another 8,668 MW was obtained from outside sources. The state’s drawal was 203 MW above its scheduled allocation.
Bhakra, Pong dams remain below maximum levels
Water levels at the state’s major reservoirs remain below their respective maximum limits.
At Bhakra Dam, the water level stood at 1,627.8 feet, against a maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. The dam received an inflow of 57,297 cusecs, while 20,036 cusecs were released.
Pong Dam recorded a water level of 1,361.09 feet, compared with its maximum capacity of 1,390 feet. Its inflow was 84,766 cusecs and the outflow stood at 9,007 cusecs.
With rainfall expected in several parts of Punjab and Chandigarh, temperatures could see some fluctuations. However, the overall trend is expected to turn warmer as the current spell of cloud cover and showers gradually weakens.
