Amid the ongoing heat wave across Punjab, the weather witnessed a sudden and welcome change on Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed relief to residents.Cloudy skies prevailed across several parts of the state, accompanied by light rainfall in many areas. Patiala received 7.5-8.0 mm of rain, Gurdaspur 7.8 mm, Ludhiana 4.2 mm, Mohali 2.0 mm and Rupnagar and Anandpur Sahib 2.0 mm each.Chandigarh recorded traces of rainfall ranging up to 1.6 mm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a significant drop of around 6°C in the average maximum temperature across the state. Abohar in Fazilka recorded a maximum temperature of 37.6°C, Bathinda 38.2°C and Faridkot 37.2°C, Patiala 36.5°C, Ferozepur 35.5°C, Amritsar 34.1°C, Ludhiana 34.0°C, Chandigarh 33.8°C, Hoshiarpur 32.5°C, Gurdaspur 31.5°C and SBS Nagar (Balachaur region) 30.6°C.Minimum temperatures, however, showed a slight increase, remaining above normal by nearly 3.7°C. The lowest minimum temperature in the state was recorded at 21°C in Gurdaspur.The IMD attributed the sudden change in weather to an active western disturbance over North India. It has forecast intermittent rainfall to continue on April 29, with more widespread rain and thunderstorm activity expected between April 30 and May 3.Temperatures are likely to remain stable over the next 24 hours, followed by a further drop of 3-5°C, later in the week.Thunderstorm activity is expected in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Mohali, Faridkot, Muktsar, Moga, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala, Mansa, Sangrur and Patiala districts.Moderate winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph are also likely on April 30, May 2 and May 3, the IMD added.