Region in sauna bath, HP first in queue for showers

Chandigarh/Kullu: A heatwave pushed temperatures well above average across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana on Monday, while weather officials predicted an incoming spell of rain and high-altitude snow to cool the mountainous state.Bathinda was the hottest in Punjab, while Sirsa the most sizzling in Haryana. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also recorded its hottest day of the season, so far. Faridkot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala all recorded above normal temperatures.In Haryana, Rohtak, Narnaul and Hisar recorded respective highs of the season, while Gurugram also felt like sitting on hot plate. The regional meteorological centre in Shimla reported that daytime and nighttime temperatures in HP had exceeded seasonal averages at most monitoring stations on Sunday.Amid the warming trend, forecasters predicted relief for Himachal Pradesh starting from Tuesday. A fresh weather system is expected to bring light rain to the low and mid-hills, alongside light snowfall across the state's highest peaks through May 24.The unseasonal warmth has affected major tourist hubs, where unseasonably high minimum temperatures offered little overnight relief. Conversely, the high-altitude remote stations of Lahaul and Spiti continued to log the state's lowest temperatures. MSID:: 131178366 413 |