Chandigarh: Rain on Sunday sent the mercury plummeting. After 14.4mm rainfall, maximum temperature fell by 5.3 degrees in a day to settle at 25.9 degrees Celsius. Although rain had been forecast for five days, Sunday was only the second rainy day this week.As a cool breeze swept the city, the maximum temperature settled six degrees below normal. Minimum temperature was recorded at 23.6 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The rainfall also increased the city’s seasonal rainfall total. Chandigarh recorded 22.2mm rainfall between Oct 1 and 5:30pm on Oct 11. The seasonal rainfall total stood at 7.8mm till 8:30am on Sunday.The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies, with the possibility of thunderstorms and light rain in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula over the next few days. According to the five-day forecast issued on Oct 11, maximum temperature is expected to remain between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to range between 21 and 22 degrees Celsius.On Oct 12, maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 30 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively, with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of thunderstorms or light rain. On Oct 13 and 14, maximum temperature is expected to reach 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to remain around 22 and 21 degrees Celsius respectively. Partly cloudy conditions are expected to continue.On Oct 15, the maximum temperature is forecast to be 30 degrees Celsius and the minimum 22 degrees Celsius, with similar weather conditions. By Oct 16, maximum temperature is expected to fall slightly to 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to remain at 22 degrees Celsius. The forecast for that day does not mention the possibility of thunderstorms or light rain.The IMD has also issued an outlook indicating the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning, accompanied by gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph, at isolated places in Chandigarh from October 12 to 15. No such warning has been indicated for October 16 and 17.With the maximum temperature expected to remain around or below 31 degrees Celsius over the next five days, Chandigarh is likely to experience relatively cooler daytime conditions than those prevailing before Sunday’s rainfall.
