Chandigarh: The weather changed in Punjab this morning. Rain fell in Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Janakpuri in Ludhiana. Winds are blowing. The Chandigarh Meteorological Center has issued a warning of thunderstorms and lightning in eight districts until 10:30 am.
Thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by strong winds are likely in Sultanpur Lodhi, Khadoor Sahib, Phillaur, Nakodar, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Shahkot, and Baba Bakala. Light thunderstorms and lightning are possible in some areas of Amritsar, Nawanshahr, Balachaur, Garhshankar, Tarn Taran, Patti, Bholath, and Rupnagar. Clear weather is expected in Chandigarh.
Sudden Relief After Days of Severe Heat
Punjab had been experiencing intense heat in the past few days, with temperatures crossing uncomfortable levels across several districts. However, the sudden rainfall has brought temporary relief from the heat and humidity, though weather officials say complete relief is still unlikely.
The Meteorological Department has noted that maximum temperatures may gradually drop from around 41°C to 39°C, while minimum temperatures are expected to remain between 25°C and 26°C.
Thunderstorm Outlook and Yellow Alert
The weather is expected to remain mostly similar over the next three days, with partly cloudy skies until June 30. Light rain with thunder and lightning may occur in some areas.
However, a yellow alert has been issued for Punjab and Chandigarh on July 1 and 2, predicting thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 km/h.
Record Power Demand and Outages Across State
Meanwhile, Punjab recorded its highest electricity consumption of the year yesterday, with demand reaching 16,604 megawatts.
This surge in demand has led to unannounced power cuts in several areas, including Jalandhar, where outages were reported last night. Officials say the rising demand trend has been continuing for the past three days, with previous peaks recorded at 16,464 MW and 16,335 MW.
Power authorities indicated that demand may rise further in the coming days, increasing pressure on the grid.
Temperature Variations Across Districts
- Highest minimum temperature: Mohali – 30.4°C
- Lowest minimum temperature: Gurdaspur – 25°C
- Chandigarh saw a rise of 1.8°C
- Pathankot recorded a drop of 2.1°C
- Amritsar and Pathankot saw nighttime cooling trends
The combination of heatwave recovery, sudden rain, thunderstorms, and record electricity demand has created unstable conditions across Punjab. Authorities continue to monitor both weather and power supply situations closely.