Rain, strong wind send mercury on nosedive

Ludhiana: Residents continued to enjoy pleasant weather as rain lashed the city on Sunday night. Strong winds led to markedly cooler conditions. The meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for Ludhiana for Thursday and Friday, cautioning against possible thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds.Rain was recorded on Sunday night, and Monday began with cloudy skies before turning clearer later in the day. However, winds persisted throughout, giving the city a nip in the air. According to the Met department, Ludhiana received 3.4mm rainfall between 8.30am on Sunday and 8.30am on Monday. No rainfall was recorded between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Monday.The impact of the showers was reflected in the temperatures. Maximum (day) temperature fell to 21.6 degrees Celsius, which is 5.2 degrees Celsius below normal and 1.1 degrees Celsius lower than the previous day. Meanwhile, minimum (night) temperature dropped to 11.5 degrees Celsius, which is 1.1 degrees Celsius below normal and 5.3 degrees Celsius lower than what was recorded a day earlier.In its weather warning for various districts, the Met department predicted "thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, strong surface winds" for Thursday and Friday. For Tuesday and Wednesday, the forecast mentions "partly cloudy sky." Officials said the yellow alert has been issued to keep departments "updated" about the expected inclement weather.The Met department website indicates that day temperature may rise to 26 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, before dipping again to 23 degrees Celsius by Friday. Night temperature is expected to fall to 10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, rise to 15 degrees Celsius by Thursday, and then drop to 13 degrees Celsius by Saturday.With the windy conditions and drop in temperatures, residents experienced a distinct chill on Monday. Manoj Kumar, a city resident, said that only a few days earlier, the weather felt warm enough to resemble the beginning of harsh summer, making the sudden fall in temperatures surprising. He added that despite the slight cold, he was enjoying the pleasant weather in the city.