The Western Disturbance that had been moving towards the region announced its arrival in the early hours of Monday, battering the Chandigarh tricity with thunderstorm and strong gusty winds around 2 am. The storm lasted barely an hour but left large parts of the city without power and water supply, which were restored later in the morning. Through the day, however, Monday’s orange alert failed to make its presence felt in the tricity, with skies staying largely unsettled but without major activity, at least till the filing of this report. The real escalation, IMD warned, is likely from Monday evening or early Tuesday.THE WESTERN DISTURBANCE: WHERE IT STANDSThe India Meteorological Department on Monday placed the Western Disturbance as an upper air cyclonic circulation now centred over North Pakistan and neighbourhood at 3.1 km above mean sea level. This marks a shift from earlier in the weekend, when the system was further west. As it edges closer, the associated convective activity — thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds — is expected to intensify before gradually tapering off towards the weekend.ORANGE ALERT TILL TUESDAY; YELLOW ALERT FROM WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAYIMD warns of thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds of 50 to 60 kmph, moving up to 70 kmph, at isolated places over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on Monday (May 11) and Tuesday (May 12). This constitutes an orange — “Be Prepared” — alert for both days across the region. Light to moderate rain is expected at a few places on Monday and Tuesday, making the active spell broader than the previous day’s impact.From Wednesday (May 13) through Friday (May 15), the intensity steps down to a yellow alert, thunderstorm and lightning with gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph, moving up to 60 kmph, at isolated places across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. Rain will reduce to isolated occurrences from Wednesday onwards. Saturday (May 16) and Jattvibeday (May 17) carry no weather warning for either state, and both days are forecast to be dry, offering the region a clean break heading into the next week.LIKELY IMPACT OF 50-60 KMPH GUSTSIMD has flagged a range of impacts that residents and authorities should brace for during the two-day orange alert. Small tree branches are likely to snap, and flying debris poses a risk in exposed areas. Lightning strikes at vulnerable locations — large trees, electric towers and poles, rooftops and hilltops — remain a real threat. Municipal services, particularly electricity and water supply, may face disruption. Roads could turn slippery with low visibility, leading to traffic congestion and difficult driving conditions. Weak or kutcha structures may suffer minor damage.IMD has advised people to stay indoors during thunderstorm activity, move away from windows and weak structures, keep livestock in safe locations, stay clear of electric poles and power lines, avoid shelter under trees and not go near water bodies. Farmers have been told to suspend all field operations during the active spell. Those driving during a storm who cannot reach a safe destination should pull over and stay inside a closed vehicle.FIVE-DAY TRICITY FORECAST: HEAT QUIETLY BUILDINGFor Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, the five-day forecast reveals a significant and sustained rise in temperatures once the active spell winds down. Tuesday (May 12) will see thunderstorm, gusty winds and rain with a maximum of 36°C and minimum of 23°C. Wednesday (May 13) brings partly cloudy skies, a brief respite, with the maximum nudging up to 37°C and minimum at 22°C. Thursday (May 14) and Friday (May 15) both carry thunderstorm, gusty winds and rain again, with the maximum jumping to 39°C on both days. Saturday (May 16) turns mainly clear, and the maximum climbs further to 40°C — the region’s first brush with 40-degree heat this season — signalling that summer is pressing in hard the moment the disturbance exits. IMD has forecast no large change in maximum temperature over the next five days during the active spell itself.7-DAY OUTLOOKThe seven-day forecast shows scattered rainfall — covering 26 to 50 per cent of stations — at a few places across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on Monday and Tuesday. From Wednesday through Friday, rain distribution drops to isolated — up to 25 per cent of stations. Saturday and Jattvibeday remain dry with no warning in force for either state.PAST 24 HOURS: RAIN IN NORTH PUNJAB, TRICITY GETS AWAY LIGHTLYThe 24-hour period ending Monday morning saw light to moderate rain and gusty winds at isolated places in Haryana and at a few places in Punjab. The heaviest falls were in the northern and foothill districts of Punjab — Thein Dam in Pathankot recorded 19 mm of rain, Bhakra Dam in Ropar 18 mm, Gurdaspur 17 mm, Hoshiarpur 12.5 mm, Pathankot 9.5 mm and Ferozepur 4 mm. Amritsar received 0.8 mm. In Haryana, Sirsa received 4.5 mm, Sirsa 6.5 mm, while trace amounts were recorded at Chandigarh airport and Hisar. Chandigarh city itself recorded no measurable rainfall.PUNJAB TEMPERATURES FALLAcross Punjab, the average maximum temperature fell by 0.8°C compared to Jattvibeday and remained 2.9°C below the seasonal normal. Bathinda recorded the highest maximum in the state at 38.5°C. The average minimum temperature fell sharply by 2.2°C, settling near normal, with the Thein Dam in Pathankot recording the lowest minimum at 18.6°C. Chandigarh logged a maximum of 36.0°C and minimum of 21.9°C. Ludhiana recorded 36.6°C maximum and 23.4°C minimum; Patiala 37.2°C and 24.2°C; Amritsar 33.2°C and 21.7°C.HARYANA TEMPERATURES UNCHANGEDIn Haryana, the average maximum temperature remained unchanged from Jattvibeday and stayed 2.7°C below normal. Rohtak recorded the highest maximum in the state at 38.8°C. Average minimum temperatures edged up by 0.7°C and remained near normal, with both Rohtak and Gurugram recording the lowest minimum at 22°C. Among other key stations, Ambala logged a maximum of 37.2°C and minimum of 25.1°C; Hisar 37.8°C and 26.4°C; Bhiwani 37°C; Narnaul 36.5°C.CHANDIGARH BELOW NORMALAt Chandigarh’s weather observatory, the maximum temperature on Monday stood at 36°C — one degree below normal — and the minimum at 21.9°C, two degrees below normal. Maximum relative humidity was 75 per cent and minimum 38 per cent. No measurable rainfall was recorded at the observatory on Monday. The city’s cumulative seasonal rainfall since March 1 stands at 100.8 mm — 161.8 per cent above the seasonal normal, underlining how active this pre-monsoon period has been.