An above-normal number of heatwave days is expected over most parts of the country between March and May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its monthly forecast on Saturday.
According to the IMD, the regions likely to witness more heatwave days include West Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, south and east Maharashtra, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of north Karnataka and north Tamil Nadu.
However, during March, maximum temperatures are expected to remain normal to below normal over many parts of the country. Exceptions include the northeastern states, eastern India, and some areas of the Western Himalayan region, as well as parts of central and peninsular India.
“This could be because rainfall averaged over India is most likely to be normal during March,” the IMD said in its statement.
The weather agency also noted that rainfall across India in February this year was the lowest recorded since 2001. Additionally, no cold wave conditions were reported anywhere in the country during February, it added.
The IMD’s forecast suggests that while early March may see relatively moderate temperatures in several regions, heatwave conditions are likely to intensify as the pre-monsoon season progresses.
