The state of Punjab has been dealing with extremely intense heat waves, and the temperature has been touching the bar of 48-49°C.
Notably, people across several districts have been witnessing scorching heat; however, Friday (June 13) afternoon has brought a mild relief to the ongoing heat as certain parts of the states developed cloudy weather, along with thunderstorms.
Thunderstorm Alert: When and Where?
According to the reports by IMD, thunderstorm activities were reported across cities like Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and some other parts of the Doaba and Majha regions. Reportedly, the weather changed between 2 pm and 6 pm, which also brought strong winds, lightning, and brief showers.
According to an anonymous senior IMD official, “A strong thunderstorm may affect isolated parts of Punjab this afternoon due to moisture incursion and local heating. However, this is not a widespread system.”
However, the thunderstorms, strong winds, and lightning lasted for a short time, which also resulted in a drop in the temperature.
Punjab’s Heatwave Crisis -
The weather updates of the major cities of Punjab have revealed that the cities have been witnessing an increase of around 4-6°C as compared to normal times. As per IMD, Bathinda has reported temperatures as high as 46.8°C, Ludhiana and Chandigarh reported around 43.4°C and 43.9°C.
Along with this, the night temperature has also been touching the mark of 30°C, bringing the heat feel during night times too.
When Will Widespread Rain Arrive?
Although some relief regarding the heat was witnessed today, Punjab is not expected to experience widespread rainfall until approximately June 20, 2025. According to weather specialists, pre-monsoon showers could come as early as the following weekend (June 21 - June 22) and actually relieve the heat.
In the next few days, you should expect:
June 13 (Friday): Light rain or thunderstorms in few places (in Doaba and Majha areas mainly)
June 14 to June 17: The hot weather is going to persist with partly sunny or hazy skies; no significant rain is forecast
June 18 to June 19: The temperature may slightly decrease; the clouds may begin to appear
June 20 and later: Pre-monsoon rain and thunderstorms are quite likely in central and northern Punjab