Punjab on Red Alert for Rain and Hailstorm, Winds Up to 90 km/h Expected

May 29, 2026

Chandigarh: The Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh has issued a red alert for May 29, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and possible hailstorms across Punjab and Chandigarh. Wind speeds are expected to reach 70–80 km/h, with some areas likely to experience heatwave-like conditions despite unstable weather.

Temperature Drops Across Punjab

A noticeable change in weather has been recorded, with the maximum temperature dropping by 2.1°C, bringing conditions closer to normal. Temperatures have fallen by 1 to 4 degrees across districts, with Faridkot recording the highest at 35.4°C.

Multiple Districts Under Storm Warning

Strong storms, lightning and hail are expected in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Moga, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala.

Power Demand Peaks Amid Heat Stress

Punjab’s electricity demand touched 11,064 MW, while generation stood at 5,168 MW and 6,511 MW was sourced from the Central Pool. The demand had previously peaked at 14,000 MW, prompting efforts to avoid power cuts.

Heatstroke Units Activated in Hospitals

Health authorities have activated Heatstroke Management Units in all district and sub-divisional hospitals as well as Community Health Centres. These units are equipped with cooling systems, ice packs and essential medicines to handle heat-related emergencies.

Monsoon Progress and Weather Systems Active

The India Meteorological Department said conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon advancement over parts of the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep and Bay of Bengal in the next 2–3 days, which may increase rainfall activity nationwide. A western disturbance over Pakistan is also influencing North India’s weather, while a system over Punjab has shifted towards Uttar Pradesh, leading to changing conditions.

Further Temperature Drop Expected

According to IMD officials, light to moderate rainfall is expected today and tomorrow, with temperatures likely to fall by 6–8°C over the coming days before rising again. Heatwave conditions may still occur in isolated pockets today