Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Monsoon showers continued to drench Punjab and Chandigarh on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to maintain a yellow alert for the next two days. Weather officials have predicted intermittent rain and thunderstorms across several districts till August 6, while conditions are expected to improve gradually later this week.
The persistent rainfall has brought a noticeable dip in daytime temperatures, offering respite from the humid conditions that prevailed over the past few days. Morning hours saw overcast skies across many districts, including Ludhiana and Pathankot, with light showers reported from several locations.
Among all districts, Patiala recorded the highest rainfall, receiving 143 mm over the past 24 hours. Other areas that experienced significant precipitation included Sri Anandpur Sahib (58 mm), Saleran in Hoshiarpur (53.5 mm), Ballowal Saunkhri in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (43.3 mm), and Barnala (38.5 mm).
Despite the widespread rainfall, Bathinda remained the hottest city in Punjab, registering a maximum temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius.
In Chandigarh, the weather remained pleasant throughout Tuesday as rain continued at intervals. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 31.3 degrees Celsius, which was 2.1 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 23.7 degrees Celsius. The Union Territory also received 16.5 mm of rainfall by Tuesday evening, and more showers accompanied by thunderstorms are likely during the day, according to the IMD.
The weather department said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places across Punjab and Chandigarh until August 6. From August 7 onwards, rainfall activity is likely to weaken, with only isolated light showers forecast between August 8 and August 10.
Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious during periods of intense rainfall, avoid waterlogged stretches and unnecessary travel during thunderstorms, and follow official weather updates to ensure safety.
