Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Residents of Punjab and Chandigarh can expect largely pleasant and dry weather on Diwali, with clear skies forecast for November 8. However, cooler mornings and evenings are likely to continue, while some areas may experience light to moderate fog over the next three days.
The Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh has forecast dry conditions across the state on November 7, with no significant change expected in the immediate future. The latest readings show that the average maximum temperature has slipped by 0.2°C in the past 24 hours, bringing it close to the seasonal average.
Bathinda recorded the highest daytime temperature on November 6, with the mercury reaching 32.6°C. Despite the sunshine during the day, winds arriving from the mountainous region are contributing to a noticeable chill during early and late hours.
Fog may affect visibility in the coming days
The weather department has warned of light to moderate fog in isolated parts of Punjab during morning and night hours for the next three days. Commuters travelling early in the day may encounter reduced visibility in some locations.
The department has also indicated that the passage of one Western Disturbance has already taken place, while another system could influence the Western Himalayan region from November 10. Punjab is expected to remain rain-free for around five days, although light showers may develop in some areas thereafter.
Cooler nights expected across the state
The temperature forecast suggests that eastern districts, including Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Rupnagar and Ludhiana, along with northern areas such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr, may record daytime temperatures between 28°C and 30°C.
Maximum temperatures in other districts are likely to remain between 30°C and 32°C. Overall, daytime readings are expected to stay close to or slightly above normal levels throughout the week.
Night temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast to fall to between 10°C and 12°C in northern Punjab. Other parts of the state may see minimum readings ranging from 12°C to 14°C.
With little chance of significant rainfall this week, the main change residents are likely to notice will be the growing difference between warm afternoons and chilly nights. Clear skies are expected to provide favourable weather conditions for Diwali celebrations, while fog and cooler winds remain the key features of the short-term forecast.
