Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The spell of showers that brought welcome relief from the scorching heat across Punjab and Chandigarh is expected to give way to rising humidity over the coming days, with weather experts forecasting a gradual increase in temperatures after a brief cooling phase.
According to the Meteorological Department, isolated light to moderate rainfall may continue in a few districts on Saturday, particularly Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala and Mansa. However, the overall intensity of rainfall is likely to decline as the current weather system weakens.
The recent rains have significantly lowered daytime temperatures across the state. Maximum temperatures remained around 8.2 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average, with Bathinda recording the highest temperature at 35.4 degrees Celsius.
Weather officials say that while the risk of an intense heatwave remains low, humidity levels are expected to rise considerably from now until June 19, making conditions uncomfortable despite moderate temperatures.
The rainfall pattern this month has also remained above normal. Between June 1 and June 13, Punjab received nearly 29 per cent more rainfall than the seasonal average. SBS Nagar recorded the highest precipitation, followed by Ludhiana and Faridkot, while Tarn Taran witnessed exceptionally heavy rainfall compared to its normal levels.
The pleasant weather has also eased pressure on the state’s electricity network. Official data shows that power demand remained below peak summer levels, touching around 11,500 MW. Punjab generated approximately 4,200 MW internally, while the remaining requirement was met through allocations from the central power grid.
Meteorologists have indicated that daytime temperatures may rise by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius over the next five days as cloud cover decreases. Although scattered showers and thunderstorms cannot be ruled out in isolated pockets, widespread rainfall activity is not expected.
For June 15, light rain has been forecast in districts including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Mohali and Patiala. The following two days may see scattered precipitation shifting towards western and southern Punjab, with districts such as Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar and Barnala remaining under watch.
Officials have advised residents to stay prepared for sudden weather changes and increased humidity, while farmers and travellers have also been asked to monitor local forecasts before planning outdoor activities.
