Chandigarh: After recent spells of rain and hail, weather conditions across Punjab saw a shift on Saturday as bright sunshine pushed daytime temperatures upward, even though they continue to remain below seasonal averages.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature across the state increased by 4.4 degrees in a day but is still about 3.2 degrees lower than normal for this time of year. The highest temperature—27.6°C—was recorded at the Bhakra Dam region.
Weather officials have indicated that light to moderate rainfall may occur in isolated pockets over the next two days, though no formal alert has been issued. On March 22, districts such as Pathankot, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa and Ferozepur are likely to experience scattered showers.
The rainfall activity is expected to expand slightly on March 23, with more districts including Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran and Moga likely to receive light precipitation at select locations.
Meteorologists attribute the fluctuating weather to an active western disturbance currently influencing large parts of north and central India. Another mild system is expected to approach the region around March 26, potentially bringing additional changes in weather patterns.
Despite the intermittent rainfall, temperatures are forecast to rise steadily over the coming days. Experts predict a further increase of 5 to 7 degrees in daytime temperatures over the next four days, after which conditions are expected to stabilise.
The mixed weather pattern—combining sunshine and scattered rain—has brought mild relief from earlier cooler conditions while signalling a gradual transition towards warmer days ahead.
