Climate of Punjab

Climate of Punjab is tropical , semi arid, hot and subtropical monsoon type with cold winter and hot summer. State experience four seasons Cold Season from November to March, hot season from April to June, Monsoon season from last week of June to the first week of September and post monsoon or transition season from Sept till beginning of November. Hot season i.e April to June weather is relatively dry and uncomfortable. Weather tends to be humid during July –September due to increased moisture contents in the air, However these months are comfortable due reduced day temperature.

Temperature: Day temperature are more less uniform over the plains except during winter and monsoon season. In general the night temperature are lower in higher latitudes except during the post monsoon when they are more or less uniform.June is the hottest month with mean maximum temperature of 41 Deg C plains with 2 to 5 Deg lower temperatures at elevated places. Highest temperature recorded in the plain is 45de highest are recorded in the olain is . January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperature for the state on a whole is 5.5 Deg C, varying from 4 Deg to 5 Deg C in the west to 6 Deg to 7 Deg C in the east. Lowest temperature recorded in the Punjab was. Both maximum and minimum temperature rise from January till June.

Humidity:- The relative humidity is generally high through the year except during months of April to June. The average humidity remains about 32 % in May and 73% during August.

Cloudiness :- Period from October to November , May to June is generally cloudless or lightly clouded. July and August are two months when sky remain clouded/overcast for more days.

Rainfall:- State received about 648.8 mm of average Annual rainfall. 75% of which received during monsoon month July- Sept. July and August are rainiest month. Rainfall in the state varies from 26 cm in extreme southwest parts to 72 cm over extreme south extreme parts and varies from 42 cm in southern parts to 13.5 cm over northern parts. District north of Gurdaspur constitute the area of maximum rainfall and district southwest of Ferozepur received minimum amount of rainfall. These districts represent lowest and highest rainfall in the state. Monsoon reaches eastern part by last week of June which normal onset date of monsoon season and cover entire state by first week of July. During winter (November-March) state receive about 10 cm of average rainfall due to passage of western disturbance which are quite crucial for agriculture operations. Withdrawal of southwest monsoon season begin from western parts of the state in the first week of September .Mosoon withdraw from the entire state by 15^th of September. State is prone to frequent floods (excess rainfall ) and drought( deficient) during monsoon month July to September .