Chandigarh: Heat wave conditions continued across Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, with Faridkot recording the hottest temperature of 47.3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, there was some relief in Himachal Pradesh as light to moderate rainfall occurred in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Lahaul-Spiti districts. The hill state's capital, Shimla, recorded a cool maximum temperature of 29.4 degrees Celsius.
Plains Suffer Intense Heat
In the plains, maximum temperatures ranged between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius. Punjab registered a rise of 1.1 degrees Celsius in average maximum temperature compared to Monday. In Haryana, the average maximum temperature rose by 0.9 degrees Celsius and remained 4.4 degrees Celsius above normal. Rohtak was the hottest place in the state at 46.9 degrees Celsius.
Despite rain in Himachal Pradesh, temperatures stayed above normal across most areas. Light to moderate rainfall brought relief in higher reaches and mid-hill areas. Manali recorded a maximum temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius, and Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti was at 21.8 degrees Celsius. The weather department has predicted light rain and snowfall in parts of the state until May 25, with cooler conditions likely to persist in hill districts.
IMD Forecast and Impact
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave conditions were likely to continue over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until May 25, with severe heat wave conditions expected at isolated places on May 19 and 20. Outdoor workers and farmers engaged in cotton sowing and direct seeding of rice continued to face extreme heat conditions. The heat wave has also affected campaigning for upcoming municipal body elections, with candidates preferring morning and evening hours for public outreach.
Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds were recorded at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana. Wind speeds touched 41 kmph in Bathinda, 39 kmph in Faridkot, 41 kmph in Jind, and 39 kmph in Sirsa. The weather department has also predicted strong surface winds with speeds of 20-30 kmph, gusting up to 40 kmph, over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until May 25.
Rainfall Deficit in Himachal
In Himachal Pradesh, the state recorded 36.3 mm rainfall between May 1 and May 19 against the normal of 40.7 mm, registering an overall rainfall deficit of 11 percent. Shimla recorded the highest rainfall at 77.1 mm, 68 percent above normal, followed by Mandi with 56.2 mm against the normal of 40.9 mm and Kangra with 55 mm against the normal of 33.7 mm.
Maximum Temperatures Across Region
- Faridkot: 47.3°C
- Rohtak: 46.9°C
- Una: 43.4°C
- Sundernagar: 38.6°C
- Kangra: 38.4°C
- Mandi: 37.2°C
- Bhuntar: 35.5°C
- Dharamshala: 35.1°C
- Chamba: 34.4°C
- Shimla: 29.4°C
- Manali: 28.5°C
- Kalpa: 26°C
- Keylong: 21.8°C
