The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather alerts for several districts in Punjab and Haryana, warning of thunderstorms, rain, and strong winds over the next 48 hours. This comes as temperatures in both states have soared significantly above normal levels.
Starting today, April 18, 2025, Haryana is expected to experience a notable shift in weather patterns. The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert for Kaithal, Karnal, and Kurukshetra districts, while a Dark Yellow Alert is in place for Yamunanagar, Ambala, and Panchkula. Residents in these areas may see cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and winds gusting at speeds of 50 to 60 km/h.
Rainfall is anticipated in several districts, including Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Karnal. On April 17, 2025, Haryana recorded a 1.7°C increase in maximum temperature, pushing the average temperature across the state to 3.3°C above normal. The hottest location was Narnaul, where the temperature reached 42.6°C.
Specific maximum temperatures recorded on April 17 in Haryana included: Narnaul at 42.6°C, Mahendragarh at 42.5°C, Rohtak at 42.3°C, Hisar at 41.6°C, Faridabad at 40.8°C, Rewari at 40.2°C, Jind at 40.3°C, and Gurugram at 39.2°C. Other areas such as Karnal, Ambala, Chandigarh, Sonipat, and Mewat recorded temperatures ranging from 37°C to 39°C.
Over the past 24 hours, all districts in Haryana noted a rise in temperature, with Mahendragarh and Faridabad experiencing the highest increase of 2.6°C. In contrast, following light showers on Wednesday night, Punjab saw a slight relief with a 0.3°C dip in average maximum temperature. However, the average temperature in Punjab remains 3.1°C above normal.
In Punjab, a storm and rain alert has been issued for 13 districts. The IMD has declared an Orange Alert for Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Fatehgarh Sahib, and Nawanshahr, indicating the potential for thunderstorms and heavy rain. A Yellow Alert is in effect for Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala, with forecasts of moderate rain and winds of up to 40 km/h.
Maximum temperatures recorded in Punjab on April 17 included Bathinda at 40.9°C (2.4°C above normal), Patiala at 39.8°C (4.1°C above normal), Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib at 38.9°C (approximately 4°C above normal), Mohali at 38.4°C (4.3°C above normal), and Amritsar at 37.2°C (2.9°C above normal).
As the weather continues to fluctuate, farmers in the region are expressing concerns regarding the impact of the predicted rain and thunderstorms on their crops. The IMD has confirmed that thunderstorms with lightning are expected across Punjab on April 18, with strong breezes reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h.
Areas predicted to be affected include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Nawanshahar, Ludhiana, Rupnagar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Patiala. Similar weather conditions are expected to persist on April 19, 2025, in regions such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, and Mohali.
After this period of instability, the weather is forecasted to return to normal on April 20 and 21, 2025. This unpredictable weather pattern, where soaring temperatures are followed by sudden rainfall, has left many residents in North India puzzled as they navigate the shifting climate.
In summary, the IMD's alerts signal a significant weather event for Punjab and Haryana, with thunderstorms and heavy rain expected to bring both relief and concern to the agricultural sector. As the situation develops, residents are urged to stay updated on weather forecasts and heed the warnings issued by the IMD.
