Ludhiana: A burst of Sunday afternoon rain brought welcome relief to Ludhiana, where weeks of sweltering, humid conditions gave way to overcast skies, cooler temperatures and a change in mood across the city.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ludhiana recorded 49 mm rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Sunday — the highest in Punjab for the day. Amritsar followed with 39 mm, while Patiala and Pathankot saw negligible precipitation. No rainfall was officially recorded in Ludhiana between Saturday morning and Sunday morning, despite cloudy conditions from early in the day.The downpour, which lasted about an hour across many parts of the city, pushed the maximum temperature down to 34.9°C, which is 1.6 degrees below the seasonal average.

However, the minimum temperature rose to 29.1°C, three degrees higher than normal — likely due to increased humidity following the rain.Residents welcomed the shift. "It was hot and humid for days," said Inderpal Singh, a local resident. "The rain brought a refreshing change — I even went for a long evening walk after it stopped."Despite the relief, the IMD has forecast a fluctuating weather pattern for the week ahead, with a yellow alert issued for Ludhiana on Wednesday and Thursday, warning of potential thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall. No alerts have been issued for Monday or Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly before dipping again midweek. The day temperature could reach 36°C by Tuesday, then drop to 32°C by Thursday, while night temperatures may fluctuate between 27°C and 28°C.

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