Chandigarh sees wettest March in three years

With 18.6 mm being the normal average rain for the month, the rainfall in March this year was 285% above normal and made it the Chandigarh’s wettest in three years

With 21 mm rain on Friday, the city recorded a total of 71.7 mm rain in March, making it the wettest March since 2020, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Before March, there was no rain in February and only 27.7 mm rain this January, 26% below normal. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

The 71.7 mm rain was second only to 72.5 mm rain in March 2020. With 18.6 mm being the normal average rain for the month, the rainfall in March this year was 285% above normal.

Speaking about this, IMD Chandigarh director Manmohan Singh said, “Towards the second half of the month, the region received strong Western Disturbances (WD). There was also a confluence between the WD and winds carrying moisture from the Arabian Sea, leading to surplus rain this time.”

Before March, there was no rain in February and only 27.7 mm rain this January, 26% below normal.

The rain spells are likely to continue in April as well, with chances of light rain on Saturday. A fresh WD is likely to affect the city from April 2 onwards, and another spell of rain is expected on April 3 and 4.

Nights this month were warmest in past 13 years

The nights this month were abnormally warm. As per IMD, the average minimum temperature this March was 15.4°C, highest in past 13 years. In comparison, the lowest average minimum temperature was 13.1°C in 2019.

The average maximum temperature this year was 28.6°C, lower than 30.9°C recorded in 2022. Singh said this was because of the rain spells this month. Cloudy weather at night keeps the minimum temperature from dipping.

Day temperature plunges by 13 degrees

The rain on Friday caused the maximum temperature to plunge from 32.4°C on Thursday to 19°C on Friday, a drop of 13.4 degrees, forcing residents to don woollens. At 19°C, the maximum temperature was 12.6 degrees below normal.

While records for the coldest March day were not readily available with IMD, the day temperature was lowest since January 29 when it had gone down to 16.8°C.

The minimum temperature also dipped slightly from 17.9°C to 16.9°C, still 1.3 degrees above normal. Over the next three days, the day temperature will remain between 23°C and 28°C, and the minimum temperature between 14°C and 16°C.