Chandigarh, May 19: An intense summer heatwave settled across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on Monday, prompting meteorologists to issue a week-long weather warning for the region.
The India Meteorological Department implemented a yellow heatwave alert operational through Sunday, predicting isolated severe conditions, clear skies, and a complete absence of precipitation or cooling winds for seven consecutive days. Regional observations indicated that average maximum temperatures surged more than 3 degrees Celsius above typical seasonal expectations.
In Punjab, the municipal district of Bathinda emerged as the warmest location after the mercury reached 47 degrees Celsius, setting a regional record for the current season. Neighboring Haryana faced similar escalations, with temperatures in Sirsa peaking at 46.2 degrees Celsius and Rohtak tracking close behind at 45.2 degrees Celsius, placing both areas well within the federal threshold for a severe heatwave.
“An anticyclonic movement has formed over the region which has led to the sudden temperature rise,” noted Surender Paul, the director of the meteorological center in Chandigarh.
The joint regional capital of Chandigarh recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, running 3.1 degrees above normal. The reading marks the first instance this season that the capital has breached the heatwave boundary, exceeding the highest temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius logged during the entirety of May last year.
Forecasters stated that night temperatures are also climbing rapidly across the plains, limiting the typical evening cooling cycle. Overnight lows in Chandigarh reached 24.6 degrees Celsius and are expected to escalate to 26 degrees Celsius later this week, compounding local heat stress.
