Chandigarh: Unsettled weather conditions are set to persist across Punjab and Chandigarh on March 31, with the Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in several districts.
Officials said the changing weather pattern is being driven by an active western disturbance, which has already influenced conditions across North India. Over the past 24 hours, temperatures in the region have risen slightly by 1.6 degrees Celsius, bringing them closer to seasonal averages. The highest temperature was recorded at Faridkot, where the mercury touched 33°C.
According to the forecast, strong winds ranging between 30 and 40 kmph are expected in multiple districts. Areas likely to experience storm activity include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Kapurthala, and Jalandhar.
Rainfall is also predicted across a wide stretch of the state. Light to moderate showers may occur in parts of Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Rupnagar, while scattered rainfall is expected in districts such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Patiala, Sangrur, and others.
In the last 24 hours, most areas remained dry; however, isolated rainfall was recorded in a few locations. Pathankot reported the highest rainfall at 5.5 mm, followed by 1.5 mm in Ferozepur. Major urban centres did not record any precipitation during this period.
Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly during strong winds and lightning activity, as the weather is expected to remain unpredictable through the day.
