Chandigarh experienced medium to heavy rain on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as the southwest monsoon established over the city. The rainfall led to widespread waterlogging at low-lying areas, road intersections, and parking lots, causing significant traffic snarls and inconvenience for commuters.
Rainfall Data and Impact
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chandigarh recorded 34 mm of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, the highest in Punjab and the third highest in the Punjab-Haryana region after Yamunanagar (54 mm) and Palwal (38.5 mm). The city had already received 5.4 mm in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the cumulative rainfall since June 1 to 68.2 mm. Relative humidity ranged between 82% and 94%.
Water accumulation was reported at several locations as storm-water drains and road gullies failed to clear runoff quickly. The Chandigarh-Ambala Highway near Patiala Chowk in Zirakpur saw commuters wading through waterlogged stretches.
Temperature Drop
The rain brought temperatures down for the second consecutive day. Chandigarh’s maximum temperature settled at 28.9°C, a drop of 3.1°C from the previous day and 5.5°C below normal. The minimum temperature was 24.4°C, 1.2°C lower than Wednesday and 2.2°C below normal. Among Punjab stations, Mohali recorded the lowest maximum at 27.8°C, while Chandigarh recorded the second-lowest maximum and the lowest minimum in the state.
Weather Warnings and Forecast
The IMD downgraded its orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain to a yellow alert from Friday, July 10, through Monday, July 13. The yellow alert warns of thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain at isolated places, and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph. No weather warning has been issued from Tuesday onwards, although light rain and thunderstorms may continue under monsoon conditions.
An IMD spokesperson said, “The southwest monsoon is now established over Chandigarh. Intermittent spells of rain are expected to continue through Monday, with isolated heavy rainfall during this period. Rainfall activity is likely to reduce from Tuesday, although monsoon conditions will persist.”
