IMD issues orange alert for heavy rainfall in Chandigarh on Wednesday

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday.

The weathermen have issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in this part of the region on Thursday, after which they expect that the vigorous monsoon is likely to calm down for two days. Another spell of heavy downpour has been predicted in the region on August 31, for which a yellow alert has also been issued.

“Monsoon was vigorous over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana during the last 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was reported at isolated places over Punjab and Haryana with extremely heavy downpour over parts of Gurdaspur and Fatehabad districts,” the IMD said.

It predicted that the current spell of widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Punjab and Haryana for next 12-24 hours and reduce thereafter.

“Light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places on August 26, at few places on August 27 and 28 and at many places thereafter in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana,” the weather department said.

The IMD predicted another spell of moderate to heavy rain likely over Punjab and Haryana from August 29.

Meanwhile, mercury dipped negligibly during the day time in Tricity on Tuesday while night temperature went up in Chandigarh and Mohali. However, Panchkula’s night temperature of 25°C was 0.1 notch below previous night’s reading.

The maximum temperature was recorded 29.9, 29.8 and 30.1°C while the minimum reading remained 24.4, 24.6 and 25°C in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, respectively.

While Mohali experienced 19.5-mm rainfall, Chandigarh and Panchkula recorded 12.4-mm and 0.5-mm showers during the last 24 hours.

However, relative humidity further rose to 96 per cent on Tuesday.

The IMD has predicted a generally cloudy sky with thunderstorms and rain in Tricity for the next five days till August 31 with the day and night temperature likely to remain between 33 and 23 °C, respectively.