Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): After a brief lull, monsoon activity has intensified across Punjab and Chandigarh, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a two-day alert for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. The renewed weather system has already brought heavy showers to parts of Pathankot, while several districts, including Jalandhar, remained under dense cloud cover on Monday.
According to the weather department, widespread rainfall is expected on July 28 and 29, with intermittent showers likely to continue through July 30 and 31. Although rainfall is expected to become less intense during the first two days of August, isolated areas could still receive moderate to heavy showers.
Even as rain returned to several regions, temperatures remained high in parts of the state. Faridkot emerged as the hottest location, recording a maximum temperature of 42.1°C. Bathinda Airport registered 39.6°C, while Anandpur Sahib touched 39°C. Temperatures in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Pathankot remained in the mid-30s.
Rainfall was recorded at multiple locations during the past 24 hours. The Thein Dam region in Pathankot received 25.5 mm of rain, followed by Anandpur Sahib with 21.5 mm. Ludhiana recorded 14 mm, while Amritsar witnessed light showers.
Chandigarh also experienced a wet day, receiving 40.8 mm of rainfall. The city’s maximum temperature settled at 34.8°C, remaining below the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 25.4°C. Humidity levels stayed high throughout the day, reflecting the active monsoon conditions.
The IMD has forecast that Chandigarh’s maximum temperature will remain between 33°C and 34°C, with minimum temperatures likely to hover between 23°C and 25°C over the next five days.
Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly during periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Commuters have been urged to avoid waterlogged roads, while people living in vulnerable areas have been asked to stay alert as changing weather conditions could affect normal life in several parts of Punjab over the coming days.
