Chandigarh: Weather conditions across Punjab and Chandigarh are likely to remain hot and humid as monsoon activity shows signs of weakening. The Chandigarh Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rainfall at isolated places in 12 districts of Punjab.
Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Patiala and Mohali could receive showers during the day. However, rainfall is expected to remain confined to limited areas, with no major improvement in overall monsoon activity anticipated in the immediate period.
Chandigarh is likely to experience partly cloudy conditions along with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. Although the city’s maximum temperature fell marginally by 0.4 degrees, it remained 1.9 degrees above the seasonal average. Faridkot recorded Punjab’s highest temperature at 38.3°C.
Sukhna Lake gate opened as water level rises
The lack of rainfall across most parts of Punjab over the past three days has resulted in persistent humidity. Patiala received just 1 mm of rain during this period, while most other districts remained largely dry, with temperatures staying above 33°C.
In Chandigarh, however, rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has pushed up the water level of Sukhna Lake. Authorities opened one of the lake’s radial gates after the water level touched 1162.95 feet. This was reportedly the first opening of a radial gate this season.
Temperatures may touch 40°C
The hot conditions are expected to continue through September 3. Maximum temperatures are likely to remain around 34°C to 36°C in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and parts of Ludhiana and Patiala.
Northern and central areas of Punjab could see temperatures between 36°C and 38°C, while parts of southern and southwestern Punjab may experience highs of 38°C to 40°C.
Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa, along with some areas of Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, may continue to record temperatures considerably above normal. Isolated light rain, however, remains possible.
Weak monsoon activity expected
The monsoon trough is currently extending through Amritsar, which could result in scattered light rainfall over parts of Punjab. A Western Disturbance is also active over northern Pakistan and the Jammu division, although its influence over Punjab and Chandigarh is expected to be limited.
Overall rainfall in Punjab is likely to remain below normal during the first half of the week as monsoon activity remains subdued.
Punjab power demand crosses 15,000 MW
The combination of high temperatures and elevated humidity has also increased electricity consumption in the state. Punjab’s power demand crossed the 15,000 MW mark for the third consecutive day, reaching 15,027 MW by Monday morning.
The demand is expected to rise further during the afternoon as temperatures climb. Against the state’s requirement, around 4,346 MW was being generated, while 10,683 MW was being drawn to meet consumption.
