Showers Trim the Heat Across Punjab
Thunderstorms that rolled through several districts on Thursday have offered a palpable break from the lingering heat. The mean daily maximum slipped by 3.8 °C, leaving today’s peaks roughly five degrees cooler than the usual October norm. Bathinda and Jalandhar shared the title of warmest spots, each capping at 29.9 °C.
The state meteorological office forecasts isolated light‑to‑moderate rain on Friday over Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, but a dry spell is expected to dominate the landscape from 17 to 21 October.
Rainfall Totals by District
Thursday’s rain gauges reveal a patchy distribution of precipitation:
- Pathankot – 29.0 mm
- Patiala – 12.6 mm
- Gurdaspur – 6.1 mm
- Bathinda – 5.0 mm
- Amritsar – 3.0 mm
- Jalandhar – 3.0 mm
- Ludhiana – 1.4 mm
The downpour translated into cooler highs across the board. Amritsar topped out at 26.5 °C, Patiala at 26.8 °C, Ludhiana at 28.8 °C and Pathankot at 27.8 °C. Compared with the previous day, Amritsar’s temperature fell 5.4 °C and Patiala’s dropped 5.5 °C.
Bathinda Records the Coolest Night
While the statewide average minimum rose slightly by 0.2 °C, it remains 2.8 °C below the long‑term mean. Bathinda posted the lowest overnight low at 17.6 °C, delivering a refreshing chill in the early hours.
Additional rain fell later in the day (08:30 – 17:30) at a few locations:
- Pathankot – 31.5 mm
- Gurdaspur – 15.5 mm
- Faridkot – 18.5 mm
Outlook: Predominantly Dry From Oct 17‑21
The weather bureau cautions that while a few pockets may still see showers on Friday, overall activity will taper off. From 17 to 21 October, the state is set to experience mostly dry conditions, offering a relatively stable pattern for residents, although localized variations could still occur.
In summary, the recent rains have already driven maximum temperatures below seasonal averages, and the coming days are expected to transition toward drier, more settled weather.
