The pre-monsoon rains brought some much-needed relief to parts of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, with the final showers occurring on Wednesday. In Punjab, evening rains in cities such as Amritsar, Pathankot, and Hoshiarpur led to a significant temperature drop of up to 2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts additional pre-monsoon rainfall in Punjab on June 22.
Sunday is expected to mark the end of the intense heatwave in Punjab and Haryana, as anticipated rainfall will bring a further decline in temperatures. Before this, Punjab experienced relentless heat, with Sangrur recording a peak temperature of 44.8 degrees Celsius late in the evening on the 12th. The region also saw drastic weather changes, including a storm with winds reaching 50 to 60 km/h, followed by cold winds from Himachal that provided a brief respite.
On Thursday, the IMD issued a storm and rain alert for the morning hours in Punjab. The severe heat has also taken a toll in Delhi, where 11 individuals succumbed to heatstroke on Wednesday. Over the last 48 hours, Delhi Police reported 26 fatalities across five districts, though the exact causes remain unclear. On Wednesday, Delhi's temperature soared to 43.6 degrees Celsius, with the perceived temperature feeling as high as 51 degrees Celsius. In response, the Health Minister has directed all central hospitals to establish specialized heatwave units.
The monsoon, which typically reaches 10 out of 30 states in Kerala by now, has been slower than usual. The IMD noted that by June, rainfall should measure between 64.5 mm and 86.7 mm, yet current figures show a significant shortfall. However, the IMD predicts an acceleration of monsoon activity within the next two days, extending across Maharashtra and into Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Concurrently, Assam is expected to receive rainfall.
The heatwave that has gripped northwestern India for the past month and a half is expected to subside by Thursday in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. However, temperatures in these regions have been consistently four to eight degrees above normal, underscoring the severity of the recent heatwave.