Thunder, light rain keep tricity skies cloudy

The tricity -- Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula -- saw a spell of light rain and thunderstorm activity on Sunday as the post-monsoon transition phase kept skies cloudy and humidity levels high.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported light rain accompanied by thunder and gusty winds at isolated places in Chandigarh and Haryana, and moderate rain over parts of Punjab.

In Chandigarh, the maximum temperature rose to 36°C, about 2.2°C above normal, while the minimum dipped to 19.4°C, 3.8°C below normal. The city recorded 0.7 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours, with relative humidity ranging from 93% (maximum) to 31% (minimum) -- reflecting a sticky, moisture-laden atmosphere.

Mohali remained among the warmest stations in Punjab with a maximum of 35.7°C and a minimum of 20.5°C, both near normal. Panchkula, too, experienced cloudy skies with brief spells of drizzle and thunder, adding to the cool yet muggy feel of the day.

According to the IMD, residual monsoon moisture and local convective activity are continuing to trigger sporadic thunderstorms across northwest India, delaying the return of completely dry conditions.

The five-day forecast for the tricity points to generally cloudy skies with thunder and rain on Monday (October 6), turning partly cloudy on Tuesday, and mainly clear from October 8 onwards. Day temperatures are expected to range between 27°C and 30°C, while nights will stay pleasant around 19°C to 21°C.

Why October still sees thunder & rain

Even after the formal withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, October often brings residual rain and thunder over north India. This is because moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea linger over the region, while local heating triggers convective clouds, leading to short-lived thunderstorms. The combination of post-monsoon humidity, retreating monsoon currents, and occasional western disturbances can cause such unstable weather before the onset of the dry, cool spell later in the month.