Punjab recorded 29.2 mm rainfall this June compared to the normal precipitation of 54.5 mm for the month. This year’s shortfall adds to a recurring trend in recent years, with deficits observed in 2020 (9 per cent), 2021 (1 per cent), and 2022 (28 per cent), while 2023 saw a surplus of 21 per cent.

June is considered to be in the monsoon season for both states, with the expectation of several pre-monsoon showers and the arrival of the monsoon during this month. Prior to this, Punjab faced its highest deficit rain in 2009 (76.7 per cent) and 2012 (73.6 per cent). From 2000 to 2024, the highest maximum rain recorded in Punjab in June was 162.9 mm and 155.5 mm in 2011 and 2008, respectively, which was 259.9 per cent and 243.5 per cent surplus, respectively.

Haryana received 29.3 mm rainfall this June, also 46 per cent below its normal precipitation of 54.7 mm. Similar to Punjab, Haryana has faced varied rainfall patterns in recent years, including deficits in 2022 (34 per cent) and surpluses in 2020 (1 per cent), 2021 (3 per cent), and 2023 (48 per cent).

Over the past 24 years, Haryana recorded its highest deficits in 2012 (89.1 per cent) and 2009 (68.6 per cent), while experiencing its highest surplus rain 121.1 mm (155% per cent) and 116.9 mm (140.4% per cent) in 2017 and 2001, respectively.

As for Chandigarh, this June, it received only 11.9 mm rainfall, marking a significant 92 per cent deficit from the normal of 155.5 mm. Only 6.2 mm rainfall was recorded in the city in June 2012.

Historical data from 2013 to 2024 shows varied rainfall amounts in Chandigarh, including seven years of deficit rain and five years of surplus: 251.5 mm (2013), 43.7 mm (2014), 63.9 mm (2015), 133.6 mm (2016), 103.1 mm (2017), 142.9 mm (2018), 24.8 mm (2019), 131.1 mm (2020), 119.4 mm (2021), 60.9 mm (2022), and 142.9 mm (2023).

In previous years, Chandigarh faced significant rainfall deficits, including 81 per cent less in 2019, 64 per cent in 2014, 61 per cent in 2020, 51 per cent in 2015, 20 per cent in 2017, and 8 per cent in both 2020 and 2023. Chandigarh’s highest recorded rainfall remains 251.5 mm in 2013, marking a surplus of 110 per cent. Chandigarh’s highest rainfall till date was 251.5 mm in 2013, which was 110 per cent surplus.

The capital experienced its highest maximum temperature this year, reaching 45.8 degrees Celsius on June 1 in Chandigarh (UT) and 46.7 degrees Celsius at Chandigarh Airport, surpassing the previous highest maximums of 45.1 degrees Celsius in Chandigarh (UT) and 45.6 degrees Celsius at Chandigarh Airport recorded in 2012 over the past 13 years.

Additionally, the capital recorded its lowest minimum temperature in June, 22.2 degrees Celsius on June 6 this year, compared to the previous lowest temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius in 2011. Furthermore, the lowest average temperature in June was 28.2 degrees Celsius this year in Chandigarh, compared to 25.3 degrees Celsius in 2011, which was the highest recorded in the previous 13 years.