IMD issues multiple alerts as Chandigarh braces for intense rainfall till July 9

After receiving the region’s heaviest and June’s highest rainfall during the last few days, Chandigarh is likely to get another spell of heavy to very rainfall for the next five days, beginning Saturday, the weathermen have said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow and orange alerts for thunderstorms and lightning on Friday; heavy rain on Saturday; heavy to very heavy rain on Sunday and Monday; and again a spell of heavy rain from Tuesday to Wednesday next week.

Issuing the weather forecast and warning, the IMD has predicted light to moderate rain likely at most places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on July 6 and 7, and at many places on July 8 and 9.

“Heavy rainfall (7cm or more) is very likely from July 5 to 9 at isolated places over northern and eastern parts of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana during this spell,” the weather department said, while forecasting very heavy rain (12 cm or more) likely at isolated places from July 6 to 7 over parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.

Even as Tricity remained dry for the second consecutive day on Thursday, the IMD observed light to moderate rain at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana. “The chief amount of rainfall was recorded in Khawaspur at 6cm; Athwal, Jandiala, Dasuya and Rayya 4cm each; Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Dilawalpur 3cm each; while thunderstorms occurred at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana,” it added.

Meanwhile, the day temperature in Chandigarh today dipped slightly after rising by 6.5 degrees on Wednesday, while the night temperature shot up by 3 degrees during the last 24 hours.

Chandigarh recorded a maximum of 34.7 and minimum 27.8°C on Thursday, which was 1.7 degrees below and 3 degrees above Wednesday’s mercury and below normal by 0.8 and above normal by 0.7 degrees, respectively.

The weathermen have predicted a generally and partly cloudy sky with thunderstorms and rain in Tricity for the next five days till July 8.

Chandigarh had received 213mm rainfall during the last month, which was highest in the last decade and was 37 per cent more than the normal precipitation in June.

Entering July with 31 mm of rainfall on the very first day of the month, the city recorded 221.2 mm of rain from Sunday to Tuesday. This brought much-needed relief from the heat — but left major parts of Tricity inundated, with roads caving in, trees and poles uprooted, public property damaged, and widespread disruptions to power and water supply, throwing daily life out of gear for three consecutive days.