The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has escalated weather warnings across North India, issuing orange and yellow alerts for multiple districts in Punjab, Haryana, and the Chandigarh region. The meteorological authority forecasts severe weather conditions including thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and potential hail on Tuesday, with active western disturbances expected to sustain these patterns for the next 48 hours.
Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Northern States
According to IMD officials, the orange alert signifies a heightened risk of moderate to severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and strong winds ranging between 40-60 kilometers per hour. These conditions pose significant risks to public safety and infrastructure, prompting authorities to issue urgent advisories for residents across affected regions.
Punjab Weather Update: Orange and Yellow Alerts
In Punjab, the orange alert has been specifically issued for several districts including Sangrur, Dhuri, Malerkotla, Patiala, Nabha, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Ludhiana East, Rup Nagar, and Balachaur. These areas are likely to experience the most intense weather activity with moderate thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds.
Simultaneously, a yellow alert remains active across a broader portion of the state, covering districts such as Mansa, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Mohali, Chandigarh, and adjoining areas. These regions are expected to witness light thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph.
Haryana Weather Conditions: Widespread Alerts
Haryana faces similar weather challenges with an orange alert declared for Narnaul, Mahendragarh, Ateli, Kanina, Charkhi Dadri, Rewari, and Kosli. These areas are anticipated to experience moderate thunderstorms accompanied by hail, lightning, and winds reaching 40-60 kmph.
The yellow alert extends to numerous other districts including Bhiwani, Hisar, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Karnal, Kaithal, Jind, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Ambala, Panchkula, and surrounding regions. Light thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are forecasted for these locations.
Chandigarh and Tricity Region Impact
The Tricity region comprising Chandigarh, SAS Nagar (Mohali), and Panchkula is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. Weather conditions are expected to persist over the next 2-3 hours with wind speeds reaching 30-40 kmph, potentially causing disruptions to daily activities and transportation.
Temperature Patterns and Rainfall Observations
The IMD has recorded notable changes in temperature patterns across both states. In Haryana, the average minimum temperature has increased by 4.5°C since Monday, currently standing 1.9°C above normal levels. Gurgaon (AWS) recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 5.8°C, while Chandigarh reported 10.1°C and Ambala 11.5°C.
Punjab has witnessed a 3.6°C rise in average minimum temperatures, remaining 3°C above normal. Ludhiana recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 7.7°C, with other cities reporting: Chandigarh (10.1°C), Amritsar (10.3°C), and Patiala (9.2°C).
Rainfall has been sporadic with light precipitation observed in limited areas. Amritsar recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall while Mansa reported 2.5 mm, though most regions remained dry over the past 24 hours. The IMD attributes these temperature fluctuations and weather patterns to active western disturbances affecting the region.
Safety Advisories and Precautions
Authorities have issued comprehensive safety guidelines for residents in affected areas:
- Stay alert and monitor weather updates regularly
- Avoid open areas during thunderstorms and lightning activity
- Maintain distance from loose structures and electric poles
- Prepare for possible power disruptions and transportation delays
- Secure outdoor objects that could become hazardous in strong winds
Meteorological experts emphasize that these weather conditions reflect broader climate patterns and western disturbance activity. Residents are advised to exercise caution and follow official advisories as the situation develops over the coming days.
