New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of severe heatwave conditions expected to last from April to June across several regions of the country. According to the forecast, heatwave episodes will last 10 to 20 days during this period.
In April, areas like Madhya Pradesh, north and coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha will have very high daytime temperatures. The IMD expects heatwaves lasting 2 to 8 days in Andhra Pradesh, Saurashtra-Kutch, Maharashtra, and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
This month, there’s likely to be less rainfall before the monsoon, especially in coastal and southern parts of India, continuing the dry trend since February.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of IMD, said, “Most regions in the country will experience above normal maximum temperatures during the summer season this year. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, northern Odisha, adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and eastern India regions could experience normal or below normal temperatures.”
The IMD warns that heatwaves lasting 10 to 20 days are likely over the next three months, longer than the usual duration of 4 to 8 days. Below-average rainfall before the monsoon will worsen dry conditions, raising temperatures further.
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Saurashtra-Kutch, Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha can expect extremely high temperatures and prolonged heat waves from April to June, exceeding normal levels.
El Nino conditions, marked by unusual warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, have prolonged heat waves. While they’re expected to shift to neutral conditions by June, their effect on India’s monsoon season is unclear.
In February and March, southern India faced hotter-than-usual weather, with heat waves hitting Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Saurashtra-Kutch, and parts of Rajasthan. Temperatures rose as high as 42.6 degrees Celsius in some areas of Maharashtra and Rajasthan by late March.