The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana, forecasting scattered to isolated rain and thunderstorm activity across the region until Saturday. This is expected to provide relief from the recent heatwave conditions.
Orange Alert for June 4 and 5
The weather office has warned of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph at isolated places on June 4 and June 5. Such conditions may lead to temporary disruptions in outdoor activities, traffic movement, and power supply in vulnerable areas. Residents have been advised to remain cautious during thunderstorm periods.
Yellow Alert Extended to Saturday
A yellow alert, initially issued for Friday, has been extended to Saturday. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places on both days. While the intensity of weather activity is expected to reduce compared to Wednesday and Thursday, caution is still advised.
Forecast Details
According to the IMD forecast, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana are likely to witness a partly cloudy sky with thunderstorms and light rain on June 3, 4, and 5. Similar conditions are expected to continue on June 6 before skies gradually clear from June 7 onward. Maximum temperatures in the Tricity are expected to remain between 36°C and 38°C during the forecast period, while minimum temperatures are likely to hover between 25°C and 27°C.
Recent Weather Observations
Despite Tuesday's yellow alert, no major weather activity was reported in the Tricity until late evening. However, the IMD's latest evening weather bulletin indicates that conditions are becoming more favourable for thunderstorm development from Wednesday onwards. The latest observations show Chandigarh's maximum temperature settled at 37.7°C, about 1.5°C below normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 23.2°C, around 3.1°C below normal. No rainfall was recorded in the city during the past 24 hours. Across Punjab, weather remained dry, while isolated light rainfall was reported at a few places in Haryana.
Broader Outlook
The broader seven-day forecast for Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana indicates scattered rainfall activity on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by isolated showers on Friday and Saturday. From Sunday onwards, no weather warning has been issued, and conditions are expected to remain dry across the region. The IMD said maximum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana continue to remain below normal despite a marginal rise over the previous day. The weather pattern is being driven by pre-monsoon conditions, which are expected to keep temperatures in check over the next few days before a return to mainly dry weather from Sunday.
