Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): An abrupt change in weather conditions caught residents off guard across Punjab and Chandigarh on Sunday morning, as dense clouds plunged the region into near darkness around 7:45 AM. The unusual scene, more typical of early dawn than summer daylight, was soon followed by hailstorms, heavy showers, and gusty winds in several areas.
The India Meteorological Department has cautioned that unstable weather will persist, issuing a ‘Yellow Alert’ for parts of the state. Districts such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Rupnagar are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds reaching 40–50 km/h.
The sudden showers have provided relief from the intense heat that had gripped the region in recent days. Temperatures have edged closer to normal levels following a slight dip. Despite this, Bathinda continued to record the highest temperature at over 40°C, while cities like Ludhiana, Patiala and Ferozepur remained in the upper 30s.
Weather experts link the developments to an active Western Disturbance interacting with atmospheric systems over northern India, along with a cyclonic circulation over adjoining regions. This combination is expected to keep skies cloudy and trigger intermittent rain and storm activity in the coming days.
Authorities have escalated warnings for May 4 and 5 by issuing an ‘Orange Alert’, indicating the possibility of more intense weather events, including hailstorms and stronger winds that may reach up to 60 km/h in some districts. Conditions are expected to gradually ease after May 6, although scattered rainfall may continue until May 8.
Meteorological officials have indicated that temperatures could rise slightly in the short term before dropping again due to persistent cloud cover and rainfall. Gusty winds and lightning strikes are also likely to accompany these systems, particularly in open and rural areas.
While the change in weather has brought a break from the heatwave, it has also raised concerns among farmers and residents due to the risk of crop damage and local disruptions. Authorities have urged people to stay alert and take precautions during periods of severe weather.
