A western disturbance is settling over Punjab, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a four‑day yellow alert from 6 October to 9 October. The warning highlights the likelihood of thunderstorms, lightning strikes, scattered showers and brisk winds across a wide swath of the state.
Districts covered by the alert
During the first two days, the most affected areas will be twelve districts: Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Firozpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar and Mohali.
Wind and rain forecast
On 6 and 7 October, wind gusts are expected to reach 40–50 km/h, accompanied by frequent thunderstorm activity and intermittent rain showers. By 8 and 9 October the winds should ease to around 30–40 km/h, though rain will continue to pepper the region.
Temperatures set to fall
The incoming system will deliver a welcome break from the recent heat wave, with daytime and nighttime temperatures projected to dip by roughly 2–3 °C as the rain and breezes take hold.
Recent temperature highlights
Just before the alert, Punjab endured a dry spell with maximum temperatures well above normal. Bathinda recorded the highest reading at 37.1 °C, followed by Amritsar (35.2 °C), Ludhiana (35 °C) and Patiala (35.6 °C). Nighttime lows were also unusually warm; the state’s average minimum was about 3.5 °C higher than normal, while Bathinda posted the coolest night at 21.2 °C.
Safety tips
The IMD advises residents to stay vigilant throughout the stormy period. Recommended precautions include securing loose items, refraining from outdoor activities when lightning is observed, and keeping up‑to‑date with local weather bulletins. The yellow alert will stay in effect until the close of 9 October, after which no further warnings have been issued for 10‑12 October.
