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Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Brace for above-normal rain this month
After record rain in June, Chandigarh could get into deep waters this July as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal rain for the month. A road caved in near the dumping ground at Dadumajra after rain in Chandigarh on Tuesday. (Keshav Singh/HT) In June, the city had recorded 213 mm, 37% above normal. The last two days of the month had contributed 190.1 mm rain to the monthly total, during the course of which, the city was left heavily flooded, with cracks developing on several roads and trees getting uprooted. As per the long-range forecast for July, most parts of the region are set to get above-average rain, especially Eastern parts of Punjab and Northern parts of Haryana. The forecast is prepared using probability models and taking into account global weather systems. As per IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul, the El Nino system, which reduces the impact of Indian monsoon, is currently neutral and is likely to stay so throughout the season. Thus, residents can expect a good amount of rain in July. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are also set to stay below normal this month due to the downpour. July is the second wettest month of the year for the city after August. The normal rain for July is 273.2 mm. In 2023, all records were broken when 760.7 mm rain was recorded in the month. Between July 8 and July 10 that year 531.6 mm rain was recorded. The annual average rain for the city is 1,059.3 mm while the monsoon average – the combined rainfall for June, July, August and September – is 845.7 mm. In 2024, only 178.2 mm rain was recorded in July. On the possibility of a rain spell similar to 2023, Paul said, 'It is a possibility with a strong monsoon system if its axis shifts northwards towards the city. That year, an active Western Disturbance, along with the monsoon system, had caused havoc.' While no Western Disturbance is on cards for the first part of July, the system is highly unpredictable. Breather till July 6, downpour thereafter Paul said that the monsoon system may become less active now as its axis has started shifting southwards. 'We can expect lesser activity for around four or five days but the system is likely to gather strength again by July 6. We can expect heavy spells of rain again after that,' he added. On Tuesday, the city logged 31 mm rain. The maximum temperature dropped from 30.7°C on Monday to 29.9°C on Tuesday, 5.6 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature rose from 24.1°C on Monday to 24.8°C on Tuesday, 2.3 degrees below normal. This is lower than all of July last year when the minimum temperature was lowest on July 3 at 25.6°C. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain around 32°C while minimum temperature will remain around 27°C.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh tricity crumbles on wettest June day in 52 yrs
With 119.5 mm rain recorded till 8.30 am on Sunday, Chandigarh saw its wettest June day since 1973 even as waterlogging, road cave-ins and tree collapses brought the tricity to its knees. Part of a road under construction near Sector 26 police lines collapses due to heavy overnight rain. (Keshav Singh/HT) India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said chances of heavy rain will continue over the next two days and issued an orange alert for Monday. As per the IMD, which started keeping records for the city in 1954, Chandigarh's wettest day ever was on June 18, 1974, when 146.4 mm rain was recorded. While June marks the onset of monsoon, it rarely sees such a downpour, which is more common in July, August and September. IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul said there were two major reasons behind it. 'When the monsoon system is still progressing over parts of the country, the system isn't as strong as it is in the central or southern parts of the country. But this time, the system moved northwards, which affected the whole region lying in the foothills of Himalayas, including Chandigarh.' He added that a Western Disturbance (WD) was also active in the region though it wasn't very active. But combined with the monsoon system, it led to heavy rain. The IMD has sounded an orange alert for the city on Monday, which asks people to stay alert and be prepared. The downpour brought the maximum temperature down by three notches – from 33.9°C on Saturday to 30.2°C on Sunday, 6.1 degrees below normal. The minimum dropped from 23.8°C on Saturday to 23.6°C on Sunday, three degrees below normal. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 32°C and 33°C while the minimum temperature will remain between 25°C and 26°C. Choked road gullies sink UT Like every year, Chandigarh again failed to cope with the downpour as choked gullies led to waterlogging across Madhya Marg, all internal sector roads, Chandigarh-Panchkula Road near Housing Board lights, and in Colonies No. 4 and 5. The worst-affected areas, where knee-deep water was witnessed, included the road from Attawa village to Sector 35, Sectors 43, 44, 45, Sector 22, Palsora village, Burail, and Sector 29's Iron Market. In Sector 16, water entered homes, while shops in Khejeri village and Sector 38 were also inundated. MC chief engineer Sanjay Arora said, 'I have already sought reports from the executive engineers on the waterlogging in their respective areas. Once we receive the reports, preventive measures will be planned accordingly.' According to records, the department hired only 100 workers to clean 30,000 road gullies across the city. However, residents allege that most storm drains, especially those in the southern sectors, remain uncleared. This, despite an annual allocation of ₹ 9 crore for the maintenance of the sewerage and drainage system. Satish Khosla, general secretary of the welfare association, MIG Houses, Sector 40-C, said, 'It was a flood-like situation in our sector, and this is not the first time. Every year, the authorities clean the gullies only on the main roads, neglecting V-6 (internal) roads. This causes flooding inside the sectors.' Meanwhile, two trees were uprooted in Sectors 22 and 32 due to the storm. On the Sector 22/23 dividing road, a tree fell on a wall, causing it to collapse. No injuries were reported. Fire tenders called in to pump out water in Mohali Mohali was no better with residents at many places having to call fire tenders to pump out water from the streets. The worst-hit localities were in Phase 3B2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and Sectors 70 and 71. In Phases 3B2, 4, 5, 7, and 11, water even entered homes. Roads in various parts of the Industrial Area turned into streams, with over one-ft water reported in Phases 7 and 8. Traffic jams were reported across the district due to water accumulation. The situation was equally grim in Zirakpur, Kharar, and Nayagaon, where several roads were submerged. In Nayagaon, water entered houses, causing major inconvenience to the residents. City mayor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu admitted that poor drainage infrastructure was a major concern. 'Around four months ago, we conducted a survey to identify faults in the stormwater drainage system. We need ₹ 200 crore to address these issues, but despite repeated communications, the local bodies department has not responded,' he said. He added that the survey indicated that stormwater could be diverted to choes (seasonal rivulets) in Balongi, Lakhnaur, near YPS, and Kambali. Deputy Mayor Kuljeet Singh Bedi pointed out the impact of airport road construction. 'Due to the airport road project, the natural flow of stormwater has been obstructed. We are working on channeling the water through Patiala Ki Rao to ease the situation,' he said. Former SAD councillor Surinder Singh criticized the civic body's preparedness. 'Every time it rains heavily, residents live in fear. Rainwater entering houses in most sectors shows how unprepared the authorities are,' he said. Even planned areas like Aerocity weren't spared. Vacant plots were waterlogged, prompting criticism from locals. Vinod Sharma, President of the Aerocity Welfare Society, said, 'On one hand, GMADA is penalizing plot owners for non-construction, but on the other, there's no sign of regular maintenance. Water is accumulating on nearly all vacant plots.' With monsoon rains intensifying, residents are demanding urgent intervention and long-term solutions from the administration.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Weak monsoon system behind no rain over past few days, says MeT
Jun 28, 2025 08:16 AM IST Residents can expect a downpour in the next two-three days, India Meteorological Department officials said on Friday. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 32°C and 34°C while minimum temperature will remain between 26°C and 28°C. (Keshav Singh/HT) Though monsoon was declared on June 24, the city has barely seen any rain since then. 'This is because monsoon winds and clouds were getting weakened by the time they reached the city,' said IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul. 'This will, however, change in the next two-three days as a new system is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal around Sunday which will strengthen the monsoon system. Further, we are expecting a Western Disturbance (WD) also to affect the region around the same time. So chances of rain are likely to rise from Sunday,' he added. Amid sunny conditions, the maximum temperature rose from 36.6°C on Thursday to 37.2°C on Friday, one degree above normal. The minimum temperature rose from 26.8°C on Thursday to 29.2°C on Friday, 2.6 degrees above normal. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 32°C and 34°C while minimum temperature will remain between 26°C and 28°C.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
It's official, monsoon has arrived in Chandigarh
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday officially declared the onset of monsoon in Chandigarh, making it the earliest monsoon arrival in the city since 2021. On Tuesday, the airport observatory recorded 14 mm rain while the Sector 39 observatory logged trace rain (below 0.1 mm). (HT Photo) Though the announcement is usually made after two days of downpour, it has been made with just trace rain this time as there is a prediction of heavy rain over the next four to five days. On Tuesday, the airport observatory recorded 14 mm rain while the Sector 39 observatory logged trace rain (below 0.1 mm). As per the IMD, the prevailing wind systems in the region and rise in humidity levels are also taken into account while declaring monsoon. IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul said that even though it didn't rain much in the city, one has to look at the region as a whole. On Tuesday, 71.6 mm rain was recorded in Ludhiana and 44 mm rain in Karnal. Other places in Haryana and Punjab also reported rain, which is why the IMD has declared monsoon over the region. Interestingly, monsoon has still not been declared in Delhi and this year, monsoon has reached Chandigarh before the Capital. Paul added, 'No Western Disturbance is active in the region. The rain over the past 24 hours is due to Easterly winds, which points to the monsoon system. Even humidity rose from 62% to 81% on Tuesday.' Paul said monsoon arrival was irregular this year because it has advanced more from the Eastern side than the Southern side. He said the system had been stalled for over two weeks but was still able to reach the city before the normal date. 'This time the normal date was June 26 and despite being held up for two weeks, a system formed over the Arabian Sea which helped it progress significantly over the past few days.' Earliest onset since 2021 In 2021, monsoon was declared on June 13 itself. Interestingly, that year, after the declaration of monsoon, no rain was recorded throughout the month and rains started only in July. Since 2015, this is the second fastest onset of monsoon tied with 2020 when it was declared on June 24. Explaining the significance of an early onset, Paul said, 'Naturally, with more days, we can expect more rain during the monsoon this year. Although other factors are also involved, an early onset of monsoon usually points to good spells of rain till the end of the monsoon which is in September.' As per Paul, chances of rain are the highest on Thursday and Friday. A fresh Western Disturbance is also likely to affect the region from June 28 which can lead to more rain. The maximum temperature of the city dropped from 35.6°C on Monday to 34.1°C on Tuesday, 3.4 degrees below normal. The minimum dropped from 28.4°C on Monday to 27.4°C on Tuesday, which is normal. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 30°C and 31°C while the minimum will remain between 26°C and 27°C.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Day temp dives to 31°C after 3.6 mm rain in Chandigarh, but humidity stays
Much-awaited amid the scorching weather, rain finally arrived on Tuesday to cool things down. Thick clouds rolled in and brought along 3.6 mm rain, causing the maximum temperature to tumble to a more comfortable 31°C, down from 37.4°C on Monday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), chances of rain will continue in the coming days, keeping high temperatures at bay. At 31°C, the day temperature was a cool 5.6 degrees below normal and lowest since 26.4°C on May 5. As it continued to drizzle sporadically through the day and the weather remained cloudy, mercury took a dive, IMD officials said. But while the hidden sun was a welcome relief, the humidity shot up to between 71% and 88%, leaving residents still uncomfortable. As per IMD, there is a chance of light rain in the city on Wednesday, before sunny skies return on Thursday. The rain on Tuesday was caused by an active Western Disturbance (WD). Easterly winds are likely to take over by the weekend and usher in pre-monsoon showers. The minimum temperature also fell from 27.7°C to 25.1°C, 1.4 degree below normal and lowest since 21.3°C on June 5. Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 33°C and 34°C, and the minimum temperature between 26°C and 27°C. Meanwhile, monsoon continues to advance and covered more parts of Gujarat on Tuesday. Following a halt between May 26 and June 15, it has progressed rapidly over the past two days, covering most of Gujarat from the southern side and parts of Bihar on the eastern side. As per IMD officials, it can reach parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the next two days. The normal date for onset of monsoon in Chandigarh is June 27 and if the system maintains its pace, it is likely to keep its date with the city.
