Chandigarh, March 10: Meteorologists have predicted a shift in weather patterns that may bring much-needed relief to Punjab, where temperatures have remained significantly above seasonal norms. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated on Tuesday that a fresh western disturbance is expected to reach northwest India by March 14, likely triggering rainfall across the state through March 16.
The forecast comes as Punjab grapples with “markedly” above-normal temperatures, a classification the IMD uses for the highest level of thermal anomaly. Over the last 24 hours, minimum temperatures ranged from 16 degrees Celsius in Gurdaspur to 21.3 degrees Celsius in Mohali. In some areas, these figures represented a deviation of up to 9.2 degrees from the average, with Amritsar recording the most significant spike. Daytime highs have similarly soared, reaching 33.6 degrees Celsius in Patiala.
The state has faced an exceptionally dry start to the year. While the long-period average for early March is typically 8mm, Punjab has recorded no rainfall at all so far this month. This follows a nearly dry February, which saw a 98 percent rainfall deficit. Experts noted that an upper air cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and a western disturbance over the Middle East are currently influencing regional conditions.
The IMD affirmed that while the weather will remain dry for the next four days, a gradual temperature drop of 2 to 4 degrees is expected following the initial 48-hour period. Residents in the neighboring western Himalayan region have been advised to prepare for scattered to widespread rainfall and snowfall through March 16, with potential hailstorms in Himachal Pradesh.
