Ludhiana: The city is trapped in a record-breaking heat cycle that has refused to cool down since the first of the month. With no rain in sight and “Western Disturbances” missing in action, the meteorological department warns that the local climate is operating at a high temperature with no immediate relief. Residents are already pivoting to summer survival mode, dusting off fans and hydration kits as the spring season evaporates.According to meteorological data, the city has not seen a single day this month where the mercury fell within a normal range, signalling an abrupt and intense start to the summer season. The peak of the heat occurred on March 6, when daytime temperatures soared to 7.9 degrees Celsius above the norm. This followed a similarly scorching March 5, which saw a 7.3-degree deviation. Even the month’s “coolest” day on March 2 remained significantly overheated, staying 5.1 degrees above the historical average.Nights have offered little relief for residents, as minimum temperatures have also remained stubbornly high. On March 9, the night temperature peaked at 7.5 degrees above normal, while the lowest recorded deviation for the month was a 3-degree increase on March 3.Surinderpal, fdirector of the meteorological department in Chandigarh, attributed the extreme conditions to a total lack of “western disturbances” and the complete absence of rainfall this month. He noted that while the heat is expected to persist in the immediate future, there is a possibility of a weather shift and potential rain activity during the third week of March.The heat has triggered a shift in domestic life across Ludhiana. Residents report that the traditional transition period between winter and spring has effectively vanished. The sudden shift has forced Ludhiana residents to overhaul their daily routines. Many have already bypassed the usual spring transition, moving straight to summer habits such as using fans, unpacking lightweight clothing, and significantly increasing fluid intake to combat dehydration and the stifling heat.Until the third week of the month, Ludhiana remains under a high-pressure heat dome.
