The heat has made a comeback in Punjab. On Saturday, Bathinda was at a searing 43.8 degrees, the top of the state. While the IMD has put many places on notice for heatwave or worse until 27th May, a turn to thunderstorms could put a lid on the temperatures any time now.
Punjab back in the red, but a cooldown is in the offing
You can see it in the numbers: a few of Punjab’s cities have been pushed past 40 degrees. Amritsar was 40.5, Ludhiana 41.2 and Patiala 42. Then you have Pathankot and Fazilka at 39.8 and 40.8 to be exact.
An orange alert from the IMD is in effect for Punjab till 27th May for the heat. After that, expect a yellow for two days of thunder and wind – a change of pace that should give some respite from the daytime high.
With the health risks in mind, Dr Balbir Singh, the Punjab Health Minister, has told government hospitals to put in place units for heat stroke. They are to have ice packs and whatnot on hand. It’s a sign they are ready for an uptick in cases.
Haryana and Chandigarh see sharp surge
Haryana has been under the gun too. Rohtak was the hottest in the state at 44.1, with Sirsa not far behind at 44. Hisar was 42.4 and Ambala 41.2. Narnaul and Bhiwani were both 40, while Gurugram and Jhajjar put in 40.1 and 40.4.
Hot winds have made their way to the shared capital, and Chandigarh is at 40.6.
Heat intensifies beyond Punjab-Haryana
From Sunday, the IMD says Delhi-NCR will only get hotter, with some spots already over 45. You can tell by the number of patients with heat-related issues showing up at local hospitals.
Over in Rajasthan, Chittorgarh was 44.2 in the last day. To the east, three Jharkhand districts – Garhwa, Palamu and Chatra – are under a heatwave alert for Monday. Dhanbad is on an orange alert for Sunday with some rain in the mix.
Even in the hills, the Shimla centre has a yellow alert for Himachal on 26th and 27th May. A western disturbance should be moving in to bring some rain and storms and take the edge off in the coming days.
The cost of this kind of weather is being felt. In Telangana, 16 have perished in seven districts, according to Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
What the alerts mean for you
All in all, the word from the IMD and the states is to expect a brief but hard spike in heat before the weather turns. Here is what you need to know:
– Orange alert in Punjab, valid to 27th May
– Two days of thunder and wind to follow
– Jharkhand (Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra) on alert Monday
– Dhanbad is under an orange for Sunday; look for rain
– Himachal on a yellow for 26th and 27th
Why this turn matters and what comes next
When you go from a hot afternoon to a storm in the evening, it can be a shock. It puts more on the table for power, for the crops and for those who need medical care.
So the message is to be ready for a couple of tough days and then make do with whatever the late-day weather throws at you. There will be a lull once the rain and wind come in, but don’t count on it to last – there are more of these in the pipeline.
We’re seeing action on the ground: Punjab’s hospitals are prepped, and there are specific warnings in Jharkhand and Himachal. In Delhi-NCR, clinics are being put to the test as the mercury goes up. It’s a case of keeping an eye on the local reports and being quick to react when the weather makes a move.
