Ludhiana: Severe heat, accompanied by heatwave conditions, has set in across Punjab. According to Dr. Pavneet Kingra, Head of the Department of Meteorology at Punjab Agricultural University, heatwave conditions have officially commenced in the state. On Tuesday, heatwave-like conditions prevailed during the day in Punjab’s Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana, and Faridkot districts. Meanwhile, the nights also remained exceptionally warm in several districts. Faridkot emerged as the hottest location in Punjab, recording a maximum temperature of 47.3 degrees Celsius—two degrees higher than normal—while the minimum temperature stood at 30 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature, too, was four degrees Celsius higher than normal. This marks the first time this season that both day and night temperatures have soared to such high levels. Elsewhere, Bathinda recorded a maximum temperature of 45.9 degrees Celsius—three degrees higher than normal—with a minimum temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees higher than normal. Meanwhile, temperatures were recorded at 45.3 degrees Celsius in Patiala, 44.2 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana, 43.9 degrees Celsius in Amritsar, 43 degrees Celsius in SBS Nagar and Gurdaspur, 42.5 degrees Celsius in Pathankot, and 41 degrees Celsius in Hoshiarpur.
In these districts as well, the maximum temperatures exceeded normal levels by three degrees Celsius, while the night temperatures also remained higher than average. Ludhiana recorded a temperature of 28.0 degrees Celsius, which was 3.9 degrees higher than normal.
In Patiala, the temperature stood at 27 degrees Celsius—two degrees higher than normal—while Pathankot and Fazilka recorded temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius, and Amritsar recorded 26.7 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, according to the department’s forecast, the weather is expected to remain completely dry until May 26.
Conditions in Punjab Set to Worsen
Punjab may continue to experience a transition from standard heatwave conditions to a ‘severe heatwave’ situation. Maximum temperatures are expected to hover between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius. In some districts, temperatures could exceed 47 degrees Celsius. In light of this, an ‘Orange Alert’ has been issued, advising people to avoid venturing out in the sun—particularly between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Children, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions have been urged to exercise special caution, as the hot winds could lead to serious health-related complications.
