Mercury dips in Ludhiana amid storm warnings.

Ludhiana: Residents of Punjab's industrial hub have been told to "be prepared" for a weekend of turbulent weather after the meteorological department issued an orange alert for Thursday and Friday.The alert warns of imminent thunderstorms, hailstorms, and strong surface winds. It follows a shift in conditions on Wednesday, where cloud cover and light grazing rain pushed daytime temperatures down to 26.2°C — nearly three degrees below the seasonal norm. While Tuesday's heat had locals reaching for fans, Wednesday's sudden cooling saw a return to light knitwear and hot beverages. "It was slightly on the colder side," said resident Harmeet Singh. "We didn't even need the fans."Forecasters expect the mercury to tumble further to a high of 21°C by Friday before a projected rebound to 29°C by early next week. Night temperatures are also expected to fluctuate significantly, potentially peaking at 18°C on Thursday before settling back to 15°C by Saturday.The orange alert serves as an official directive for government departments to remain on standby for potential disruptions caused by the inclement weather. Despite the warnings, many locals welcomed the reprieve from the early summer heat, enjoying the overcast skies and trace rainfall recorded throughout the district.