CHANDIGARH — The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Punjab, forecasting widespread heavy rainfall across isolated pockets of the state from Sunday, September 13, through September 17. Neighboring Chandigarh is also expected to experience sustained cloud cover and intermittent showers during this five-day stretch.
While maximum temperatures in Punjab fell by 0.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday, weather conditions remained humid, hovering 1.8 degrees above normal. Bhakra Dam recorded the highest temperature in the state at 36.3 degrees Celsius, while Chandigarh registered 36.8 degrees Celsius, making it warmer than all Punjab districts.
Active Weather Systems and District-Wise Forecast
The fresh wet spell is driven by an active Western Disturbance hovering over North Punjab and adjoining areas. A cyclonic circulation originally positioned over North Pakistan and the Jammu region has settled at an altitude of 3.1 to 5.8 km over North Punjab, significantly boosting cloud formation and precipitation chances.
Precipitation is expected across 16 districts of Punjab, with varying intensity:
Pathankot faces potential heavy downpours at isolated locations. Light to moderate showers are predicted for Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, and Mohali. Further rainfall is anticipated across Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Barnala, Mansa, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Patiala.
Having recorded just 0.6 mm of rain on Saturday, weather officials expect this upcoming spell to help bridge the seasonal monsoon deficit across several districts.
Soaring Humidity Drives Grid Demand Past 13,000 MW
The sticky conditions preceding the rain spell have triggered a surge in cooling appliances, placing heavy strain on the state’s power infrastructure. Punjab’s electricity demand crossed 13,083 MW early Sunday morning.
To manage the deficit, the state generated 4,339 MW through internal power sources while drawing an additional 8,746 MW directly from the central grid. Officials anticipate demand could climb further as humidity peaks prior to widespread rainfall.
