Northwest India, including the states of Punjab and Haryana, is set to experience a four-day spell of wet weather, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for thunderstorms and strong winds. The alert forecasts light to moderate rainfall across various parts of Punjab and Haryana from October 12 to 15.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, are expected at isolated locations until October 15. Following this period, drier weather conditions are anticipated. The IMD’s bulletin, issued on October 11, detailed the expected meteorological developments.
The current wet spell is attributed to a confluence of atmospheric conditions. An upper air cyclonic circulation is present over Haryana. Additionally, a trough extends from central Pakistan to northern Madhya Pradesh, passing through the Jammu region, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and western Uttar Pradesh. A prevailing western disturbance over Himachal Pradesh is also contributing to the anticipated rainfall.
Satellite imagery released by the IMD on Sunday depicted extensive cloud cover over significant portions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and northern Uttar Pradesh, as well as northeastern Rajasthan, which borders Haryana. Eastern Punjab, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir showed partial cloud cover.
Both Punjab and Haryana have experienced deficient rainfall during the monsoon season. The rainfall received in October so far has also been below normal. Haryana has recorded a rainfall deficit of 84 per cent for the month, while Punjab faces a deficit of 47 per cent. Between October 1 and the morning of October 11, Haryana received only 0.8 mm of rain against a long period average (LPA) of 5.2 mm for the same duration. Punjab recorded 2.4 mm of rain, compared to its LPA of 4.4 mm.
Despite the overall deficit, certain districts in Punjab have registered rainfall significantly above normal levels for this period. Faridkot reported a surplus of 181 per cent, followed by Hoshiarpur with 180 per cent, Muktsar with 174 per cent, and Pathankot with 54 per cent. In contrast, rainfall in the remaining districts of Punjab has been below the LPA by at least 47 per cent. Ten districts, including Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, and Mohali, have remained entirely dry.
In Haryana, 17 districts have not received any rainfall in October up to the reporting date. Only two districts experienced above-normal rainfall: Panchkula recorded a surplus of 71 per cent, and Sirsa registered 52 per cent. The rainfall shortfall in districts such as Ambala, Gurugram, and Yamunanagar ranged between 65 per cent and 99 per cent, according to IMD data.
Daytime temperatures in both Punjab and Haryana have been below normal over the past 24 hours. Conversely, night temperatures have been above normal. In Punjab, the highest maximum temperature recorded was 33.5 degrees Celsius in Bathinda, while the lowest minimum temperature was 16.0 degrees Celsius, also recorded in Bathinda. In Haryana, Narnaul registered the highest maximum temperature at 34.0 degrees Celsius, and Bhiwani recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 20.0 degrees Celsius.
The IMD also indicated that isolated to scattered rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 60 kmph, is likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on certain days until October 17. Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is possible in these northern states between October 14 and 15.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
