NEW CHANDIGARH, MAY 29 — A severe weather warning has put the high-stakes Indian Premier League Qualifier 2 match between the Gujarat Titans and the Rajasthan Royals under immediate threat of a washout at the PCA International Cricket Stadium on Friday evening.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert predicting heavy rain, a destructive hailstorm, and ferocious squalls reaching up to 90 kmph. Meteorologists pinpointed the core impact window between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., directly overlapping with the pre-match preparations and the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start time. A complete cancellation would automatically propel the Gujarat Titans into the championship final against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad based on their superior regular-season net run rate.
While the Chandigarh Tricity area experienced overcast skies and a brief relief from the heatwave during the early afternoon, neighboring territories reported intense precipitation. Significant parts of Haryana recorded heavy downpours by early morning, with Charkhi Dadri tracking 24.5 mm of rain and Karnal following at 19 mm. In stark contrast, Punjab weather stations remained largely untouched, recording only a nominal 0.8 mm of rain at Bathinda.
“The approaching storm system is gathering massive energy and moisture as it moves northward,” an IMD regional forecaster stated. “Residents and travelers must prepare for sudden visibility drops, localized urban flooding, and potential utility disruptions as the main front collides with the region.”
The incoming storm has already triggered a sharp drop in overnight temperatures across the region. Gurugram saw the most dramatic shift in Haryana, where the minimum temperature plummeted by seven degrees to settle at 20 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh recorded a low of 23 degrees Celsius, marking a notable drop from the previous night’s 25.6 degrees Celsius.
Weather experts expect daytime temperatures to crash by six to eight degrees Celsius on Friday, effectively breaking the stubborn heatwave. The extreme weather pattern will persist into Saturday under an orange alert, which brings continued heavy showers and winds up to 60 kmph. Forecasters expect the system to clear by Sunday, leaving isolated showers for the weekend before dry, scorching heat returns to the region by Monday afternoon.
