Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Punjab and Haryana in past 24 hours bringing down the high rainfall deficit. According to the Meteorological Department, Amritsar received heavy rainfall of 146 mm, Patiala recorded 118.4 mm, Karnal recorded 136.2 mm rainfall in last 24 hours.
Among other places, Chandigarh recorded 95.4 mm rainfall, Ambala received 82.2 mm, Patiala 15.8 mm, Bhiwani 8.8 mm, Hissar 2.4 mm rains. The Met Department has forecast moderate to heavy rain/thundershowers at many places during next 24 hours in Punjab and Haryana. The Union Territory of Chandigarh is also likely to receive moderate to heavy showers in next 24 hours.
A Met official said that rain/thundershowers may occur at some places in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and ludhiana districts in Punjab while in Haryana, rains are expected in Jhajjar, Rohtak, Hisar and Sirsa districts in next 24 hours. The official said that after heavy rainfall in several parts of Punjab, the rainfall deficit has narrowed down to 47 per cent. Punjab has received 223.9 mm rainfall against normal of 424.9 mm from June to September 6.
After rainfall in last two days, Chandigarh is now witnessing a monsoon rainfall deficit of 55 percent. The city has received 327 mm rains against normal rainfall of 721.4 mm. Haryana has received 186.6 mm rainfall against normal of 404.8 mm rains resulting in rain deficit of 54 percent. In Haryana, Rohtak has recorded high rain deficit of 80 percent after receiving only 91.5 mm rainfall against normal of 460.2 mm. Barnala in Punjab has recorded only 42.4 mm rainfall against normal rains of 296.3 mm recording highest rain deficit of 86 per cent.
Meanwhile, with heavy rainfall lashing many parts of the region, the temperature levels have plunged below normal.Chandigarh on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 31.4 degree Celsius, two notches below normal and minimum temperature of 22.4 degree Celsius. Amritsar in Punjab settled at a maximum temperature of 29.7 degree Celsius, five notches below normal. ludhiana and Patiala recorded respective maximum temperatures of 31.1 degrees and 30.6 degree Celsius, each two degrees below normal.
In Haryana, Ambala recorded maximum temperature of 30.9 degrees, Narnual recorded 34 degree Celsius, Hisar recorded maximum temperature of 33.7 degree Celsius and Karnal settled at 31 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature recorded was 21.9 degrees in Ambala, 22.4 degrees in Karnal, 22.5 degree Celsius in Narnaul, 22.7 degrees in Amritsar and 23.6 degree Celsius in ludhiana.
Meanwhile, the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh on Friday experienced mild spells of snow, while the low and mid hills saw moderate to heavy showers.The maximum temperature in Himachal has also declined by one to two degrees. According to the Met Department, the high-altitude areas of lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kullu and Kinnaur districts experienced mild snow during the past 24 hours.
The State capital Shimla saw moderate intermittent spells of rain throughout the day and recorded a maximum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius. Dharamsala recorded a maximum temperature of 25.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 27.8 degrees in Dharamsala, 24.4 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district and 25.6 degrees in Manali.
Kheri in Chamba district recorded the highest rainfall in the State at 108 mm, while it was 81 mm in picturesque tourist resort Dalhousie, 29 mm in Dharamsala and 18 mm in Manali.