Just when mornings have started feeling cooler across Punjab, the weather may be preparing for one more warm spell. With October beginning on a warmer note, the question is back: will summer return to Punjab before winter finally takes over?
The answer, according to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, is more nuanced. Punjab is likely to see warmer afternoons in the first few days of October, but the available forecast does not indicate a return to peak summer conditions.
October could start on a warmer note
The IMD's Chandigarh-Mohali forecast shows maximum temperatures around 33°C on September 30 and October 1, with temperatures rising to about 34°C on October 2–3. The forecast also indicates mainly clear conditions during this period.
For Chandigarh city, the IMD forecast similarly puts the maximum at 33°C on October 1 and 34°C on October 2–4.
That means residents who had started reaching for lighter winter clothing may still have to deal with warm afternoons and plenty of sunshine.
But is summer really coming back?
Not quite.
A few days of temperatures in the low-to-mid 30s in early October are not unusual enough by themselves to indicate a return of summer. Instead, the pattern is better described as an early-October warm spell, particularly during the daytime.
The contrast can nevertheless feel significant because September's final days have brought noticeably cooler mornings in several parts of the region. Recent IMD observations showed minimum temperatures around the low 20s in places including Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala, while some locations recorded cooler conditions.
Winter is not knocking yet
The latest IMD subdivision forecast issued on September 29 showed no weather warning for Punjab through October 5.
So while the mornings may continue to feel comparatively pleasant, Punjab's transition towards genuinely winter-like weather is still some distance away.
For now, the weather story is likely to be one of fluctuating temperatures: cooler mornings, warmer afternoons and a gradual seasonal transition rather than an abrupt switch from monsoon to winter.
The big question for Punjab
So, will summer return before winter arrives?
A short-lived summer-like feel is possible, especially during the afternoons, but current IMD forecasts do not point to a full-fledged summer comeback. The early days of October are shaping up to be warm rather than scorching, with maximum temperatures in parts of the region hovering around the 33–35°C range.
In other words, Punjab may get one more reminder of summer — but winter's arrival is still a separate chapter.
