Chandigarh, March 10 — Chandigarh’s maximum temperature rose to 29.9°C on Sunday, the highest recorded this year and 3.6 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
With winter coming to an end, summer has officially begun, and temperatures are expected to climb further in the coming days.
“Temperature is likely to cross 30°C soon and may reach 33°C by the end of the week,” said Surender Paul, director of IMD Chandigarh.
Explaining the recent rise, Paul noted that cold winds from Himachal Pradesh had kept temperatures lower last week due to snowfall in the region. “That system has now passed, and wind movement has stopped, leading to a gradual increase in temperature,” he said.
According to IMD’s long-range forecast, summer is expected to be hotter than usual, with more days of heatwave conditions.
“This year, we are likely to see above-normal temperatures, and records for maximum temperature may be broken,” Paul added.
While the city has remained dry for a week, a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is expected to bring rain on Friday and Saturday, coinciding with Holi celebrations.
“The system won’t be as strong as the last one, but snowfall in Himachal Pradesh could bring slight relief from the heat in Chandigarh,” Paul said.
The minimum temperature dropped from 12.5°C on Saturday to 10.9°C on Sunday, two degrees below normal. With the approaching WD, it is expected to rise due to increased cloud cover. Over the next three days, maximum temperatures will range between 30°C and 32°C, while minimum temperatures will stay between 14°C and 16°C.
