Chandigarh's Weather Rollercoaster: Record Heat Gives Way to Heavy Rainfall
In a dramatic meteorological turnaround, Chandigarh experienced one of its most extreme weather reversals in recent memory this week. The city, which had just recorded its warmest January day in 14 years, suddenly found itself grappling with heavy rainfall and plummeting temperatures within a 24-hour period.
From Record Heat to Soaking Rain
The weather transformation began on Thursday, just one day after Chandigarh basked in unseasonable warmth. By Thursday night, the skies opened up, delivering substantial rainfall that continued through Friday evening. According to data from the Chandigarh weather observatory, the city received 13.2mm of rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 8:30am on Friday.
This initial downpour was followed by another 25.1mm between 8:30am and 5:30pm, bringing the total rainfall during this weather spell to an impressive 38.3mm. This marked the wettest January day Chandigarh has experienced since 2022, when the city received 45.9mm of rain in a single day. The all-time highest January rainfall record for Chandigarh remains 65mm, reported back in 2017.
Temperature Plunge and Windy Conditions
The rainfall was accompanied by strong surface winds that gusted between 50 to 60 kmph during active precipitation phases. These winds remained a dominant feature throughout the day, coinciding with periods of steady rainfall that transformed the city's landscape.
Temperature data revealed the dramatic nature of this weather shift. Chandigarh recorded a maximum temperature of just 13.5 degrees Celsius, representing a staggering 24-hour drop of 12.8 degrees Celsius. This sharp decline came immediately after the city had experienced its warmest January day in over a decade, highlighting the abrupt nature of the weather system's arrival.
Interestingly, while daytime temperatures plummeted, night temperatures showed the opposite trend. The minimum temperature rose to 10.9 degrees Celsius, registering a 24-hour increase of 6.1 degrees Celsius. This rise in nighttime temperatures is consistent with cloudy and rainy winter conditions, which limit heat loss after sunset and create a more moderate thermal environment.
Humidity and Meteorological Explanation
Humidity levels remained elevated throughout the weather event, with maximum relative humidity recorded at 86% and minimum relative humidity at 34%. These readings indicate a moisture-laden atmosphere that was ripe for precipitation.
Meteorologists have attributed this sudden weather shift to an active western disturbance influencing the region. Such weather systems are typical during January in northern India and are known to bring:
- Winter rainfall
- Strong gusty winds
- Abrupt temperature changes
- Cloudy conditions
Weather Forecast and Continuing Conditions
The forecast for Chandigarh indicates that cloudy conditions are likely to persist over the next few days. Residents should prepare for:
- Moderate to dense fog during morning hours
- Maximum temperatures remaining between 17°C and 19°C
- Minimum temperatures ranging from 6°C to 8°C
These conditions suggest that winter weather patterns will continue even as the intensity of rainfall activity weakens. The dramatic temperature swing from record warmth to substantial cooling serves as a reminder of the variability that can characterize January weather in northern India, particularly when influenced by active western disturbances that bring moisture from the Mediterranean region.
