The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a tehsil-level nowcast for several parts of Punjab and Haryana, forecasting moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. The alert, issued early in the morning, is valid from 7:14 AM to 10:14 AM.
In Punjab, moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong surface winds with speeds reaching 30–40 km/h are very likely in tehsils such as Kharar, Rupnagar, Balachaur, Anandpur Sahib, Garhshankar, and Nangal. Light rain is expected across a broader region of the state.
Additional areas expected to receive light to moderate rain include Patiala, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Bassi Pathana, Chandigarh, Khamanon, Ludhiana East, Chamkaur Sahib, Samrala, Phagwara, Jalandhar-I, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Dasuya, Mukerian, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot.
In Haryana, moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms and gusty winds is very likely in Jagadhri, Chhachhrauli, Narayangarh, Panchkula, and Kalka. Light rain is expected in Karnal, Indri, Thanesar, Kaithal, Nilokheri, Radaur, Barara, Pehowa, Shahabad, Ambala, and Chandigarh.
Although no formal weather warning has been issued for the morning hours, the IMD has urged residents to remain vigilant to rapidly changing weather conditions and exercise caution during outdoor activities, particularly in storm-prone and low-lying areas.
Earlier, on August 4, the Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh had issued a broader alert predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh between August 4 and August 6.
According to the IMD, rainfall activity is expected to intensify further in the coming days. Light to moderate showers were forecast for August 4, followed by significantly increased rainfall over northern and eastern Punjab, as well as northern, eastern, and southern Haryana and Chandigarh from August 5 onwards.
The department has warned of possible impacts, including waterlogging in low-lying areas, damage to standing or harvested crops stored in the open, disruption to power and water supply, traffic congestion due to slippery roads and reduced visibility, and rising water levels in seasonal rivers and drains. Temporary or weak structures may also be at risk.
-ANI