Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab and Chandigarh remain under an Orange Alert as the weather department has forecast rain, hailstorms and strong winds across several parts of the region on Friday.
According to officials, winds may reach speeds of up to 40 kmph over the next two hours, while Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula are expected to experience thunderstorms until around 3 PM.
The recent spell of intermittent rain, hail and strong winds on Thursday led to a 3.8-degree Celsius drop in temperature, pushing it 2.1 degrees below the seasonal average. Despite the cooler conditions, Abohar recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 42°C.
The weather department has predicted that similar conditions will continue until June 17, providing continued relief from the intense heatwave that affected the region earlier this week.
Authorities have advised residents to avoid open fields, trees and electric poles during thunderstorms and strong winds to minimize the risk of accidents.
According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, rain and thunderstorms are likely across most parts of Punjab. Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda and Mansa are particularly vulnerable to hailstorms, along with light to moderate rainfall.
The changing weather has also significantly reduced electricity consumption, with power demand falling by more than 76% following the drop in temperatures.
