The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted normal weather throughout the entire Punjab for the next three days, which brought some relief to the farmers and dwellers as well after an episode of rain showers last July. No matter relating to weather warnings today and tomorrow has been conveyed by the Chandigarh Centre of IMD, and the temperatures will also be moderate.
Rain statistics and temperature trends
On Wednesday, most of the Punjab districts received light to moderate showers. Amritsar received approximately 16 mm of rain in 24 hours, and Patiala received a heavier amount of 32.3 mm of rain. Bathinda recorded the highest at 115 mm, Gurdaspur received 57.2 mm, and Pathankot received 27 mm. Despite rain, Punjab's overall mean temperature was still 2.4°C below normal for the second week of July, though on Wednesday there was an increase of 1.2°C. Season's maximum temperature of 35.1°C was recorded in Abohar (Fazilka district).
No alert, stable weather till august 2
According to an IMD six-day forecast:
July 31–August 2: Weather will continue to be quite dry and stable for all the districts of Punjab. No alert or warning was issued during this time.
Clear to partly cloudy sky, moderate day temperatures (largely between 33-36°C), and pleasant nights are to be expected.
Weather forecasters have forecast that the monsoon would revive again from August 3
Cloudy weather with heavy rain in the Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Pathankot districts from 3rd to 5th August.
There has already been a "Yellow Alert" by the IMD for all these districts between the same time period, forecasting an opportunity for intermittent heavy rain showers and localized waterlogging.
Residents of these hit zones are asked to exercise caution regarding local advisories and beware of flash rains, especially in low-lying or river-facing regions.
Rains in Himachal Pradesh have also augmented Punjab's large water reservoirs. Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River, which provides irrigation and hydel power supply to Haryana and Punjab, showed its water level going up steadily towards its full height of 1685 meters. Storage of water as of July 30 is far superior to last year for the same period, dispelling apprehensions over supply of water for irrigation and drinking purposes as the kharif crop season begins.
This recent spell of good weather gives farmers a chance to care for kharif crops before the next possible rain. Ideal dam water levels are positive news for farming society and ensure that water will be sufficient both for farm and household purposes even if there is heavy rain once again in August.
Weather normal; no need to panic in Punjab on July 31–August 2.
Aug 3–5: Partially heavy rain expected in certain districts; Yellow Alert for Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr.
Dam level: Bhakra and major dams are better off compared to last year at this time, reducing water issues.
Advisory: Vendors and villagers of north Punjab need to prepare themselves for possible heavy showers during the weekend.
Keep yourself informed with official IMD updates or your local government regarding any fresh warnings, and plan work outdoors accordingly. Normal monsoon season is beneficial to the region as a whole, and is agriculturally and water supply-wise good.
