The pre-monsoon storm season is firmly behind the region and the heatwave is now officially at the door. India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a formal alert, declaring heat wave conditions likely over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh from Monday (May 18) through Friday (May 22) — five continuous days of heat wave alert. A yellow heat alert — advising residents to stay updated and take precautions — is in force from Monday onward. No rain, no thunderstorm and no gusty winds are expected across the entire region for at least seven days from Saturday, with every day in the week ahead forecast to be completely dry.Underlining that the heat has already begun establishing itself, Mohali recorded the warmest night in Punjab on Friday night — its minimum temperature of 25.6°C was the highest minimum in the state. Chandigarh’s maximum temperature on Saturday hit 39.0°C, landing exactly at the seasonal normal for this date — the first time in this active season that the city’s daytime high has reached the normal mark after weeks of below-normal readings driven by western disturbance activity.IMD’S HEATWAVE WARNINGIMD focuses the sharpest heat warning on the southern and south-western districts of Punjab and Haryana, where isolated heat wave conditions are forecast to develop from Monday. The northern and eastern parts of Punjab and Haryana — including Chandigarh — are also expected to record above-normal maximum temperatures through this period, without necessarily meeting the formal heat wave threshold. IMD projects a gradual rise of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the next five days, and mainly dry weather is forecast to continue over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana through the next five to six days with no weather relief on the horizon.WHAT IS YELLOW HEAT ALERTThe yellow heat alert means heat wave conditions will affect isolated pockets on at least two days. While the heat is described as tolerable for the general public, IMD has flagged a moderate health concern for vulnerable groups — infants, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.ADVISORY: WHAT YOU SHOULD DOIMD has advised residents to avoid prolonged sun exposure, particularly during the peak afternoon hours; drink plenty of water even when not thirsty; wear lightweight, light-coloured and loose cotton clothes; and cover the head with a cloth, hat or umbrella when stepping out. For farmers, IMD has specifically advised that irrigation be done in the evening or early morning hours to minimise heat stress on standing crops.FIVE-DAY TRICITY FORECAST: UNRELENTING HEATThe five-day forecast for Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula leaves little doubt about what lies ahead. Jattvibeday (May 17) will see mainly clear skies with a maximum of 39°C and minimum of 23°C. Monday (May 18) pushes to 41°C maximum and 23°C minimum. Tuesday (May 19) holds at 41°C maximum and 24°C minimum. Wednesday (May 20) stays at 41°C maximum and 24°C minimum. Thursday (May 21) touches 42°C maximum with a minimum of 24°C. Every single day carries mainly clear skies — not a cloud, not a drop of rain, no respite from the sun.SEVEN-DAY WARNING: ALL DRY, ALL HEATThe seven-day weather outlook for both Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh shows no rain at all from Saturday through Friday (May 16-22). Saturday and Jattvibeday carry no weather warning. From Monday (May 18) through Friday (May 22), a heat wave warning at isolated places is in force for both states and Chandigarh, sustained for five days in a row.PAST 24 HOURS DRY ACROSS BOTH STATESThe 24-hour period ending Saturday morning was completely dry across both Punjab and Haryana — the first entirely dry 24-hour spell in over a week. After the sustained stormy spell driven by the western disturbance that brought rain, thunderstorm and gusty winds to the region repeatedly between May 10 and 14, the atmosphere has settled, the clouds have cleared and the heat is now building unimpeded.PUNJAB TEMPERATURES: HEAT BUILDING FROM SOUTHAcross Punjab, the average maximum temperature rose by 2.1°C on Saturday and is now near normal. Faridkot recorded the highest maximum in Punjab at 42.6°C and followed by Bathinda at 42.3°C — the Malwa belt is already running hot. Abohar (Fazilka) registered the highest single-day rise at 3.7°C to reach 39.0°C, while Amritsar rose 3.6°C to 38.2°C and Ludhiana climbed 3.0°C to 39.8°C. Average minimum temperatures rose by 0.7°C and are near normal. Mohali’s minimum of 25.6°C was the warmest night reading in Punjab, while Bhakra Dam in Ropar recorded the coolest minimum in the state at 20.2°C.HARYANA TEMPERATURES: ROHTAK LEADS THE HEATIn Haryana, the average maximum temperature rose by 1.3°C and remained near normal. Rohtak recorded the highest maximum at 42.1°C, followed by Sirsa at 42.0°C, Narnaul at 41.5°C, Nuh at 41.4°C and Hisar at 40.9°C — a wide arc of the state is now touching or crossing 40°C. Average minimum temperatures in Haryana showed no change on Saturday and remained 1.6°C below normal. Rohtak recorded the lowest minimum in the state at 20.4°C. Among other stations, Ambala logged a maximum of 39.8°C and minimum of 25.5°C; Karnal 39.6°C and 22.2°C; Jind 40.6°C and 23.7°C.CHANDIGARH STAYS NORMALAt Chandigarh’s weather observatory on Saturday, the maximum temperature was 39.0°C — exactly at the seasonal normal, with zero departure — while the minimum was 22.4°C, three degrees below normal. Maximum relative humidity was 63 per cent and minimum 43 per cent. No rainfall was recorded during the day. Chandigarh’s cumulative seasonal rainfall from March 1 stands at 105.0 mm, now 124.4 per cent above the seasonal normal.