With the south-west monsoon playing truant across the region, the temperature levels have witnessed a sharp rise, settling above 40 degree Celsius in many parts of the region on Tuesday.
Chandigarh and neighboring States of Punjab and Haryana continued to reel under severe heat with maximum temperature settling upto four degrees above normal.
Hissar in Haryana sizzled at maximum temperature of 41.5 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal while Bhiwani braved the blistering heat at 41.4 degree Celsius.
The joint capital of Punjab and Haryana—Chandigarh—recorded a maximum temperature of 37.4 degree Celsius, two notches above normal while a minimum temperature of 27.8 degree Celsius, four degrees above normal was recorded. The Sikh’s shrine city – Amritsar seeing a hot day recorded a maximum of 40.2 degree Celsius, three notches above normal. ludhiana and Patiala settled at respective max temperature of 39.1 degree Celsius and 39.4 degree Celsius.
Among other places, Ambala settled at a high of 38.6 degree Celsius and Narnaul recorded a maximum temperature of 40.5 degree Celsius, three degrees above normal.
The holy city, Amritsar recorded a minimum temperature of 28 degree Celsius, ludhiana settled at a minimum temperature of 27.7 degree Celsius, Patiala at 28.4 degree Celsius, Ambala at 27.6 degree Celsius, Bhiwani recorded 28.4 degrees, Hissar saw a minimum of 28.6 degree Celsius, Narnual settled at 27 degrees and Karnal recorded a low of 26.8 degree Celsius.
The neighboring State of Himachal also recorded high temperature levels. Una recorded a maximum temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, followed by Kangra and Sunder Nagar at 34 degrees Celsius. The capital city, Shimla settled at a maximum temperature of 24.9 degrees, up by three notches from normal.
According to the Met Department, light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at isolated places in Haryana and Punjab in next 24 hours. Surender Pal, Director Chandigarh Meteorological Department said that the temperature levels are likely to increase in next few days. At present, the monsoon is inactive across the region and it is likely to revive after July 13.
Rains are expected to lash the region by the end of this week or next week, he added. During this monsoon, the city has received 115.5 mm rains so far. As per the Meteorological Department, the monsoon rainfall in union territory of Chandigarh remained deficient by 33 percent till now.
In Haryana, the monsoon rainfall remained deficient by 37 percent while in Punjab, a monsoon rainfall deficit of 43 percent was recorded.This year, the monsoon had set in the region on July 1 and 2 while last year, the monsoon had arrived here on June 16