As the summer season approaches, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of soaring temperatures, anticipating a warmer-than-usual start to the season. The persistent El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are attributed to this forecast, indicating a prolonged and hotter summer for the country.
The IMD’s Director General, Mrityunjay Mohapatra, highlighted that the influence of El Nino on temperatures will continue, even as the phenomenon transitions to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions by May. This suggests that the expected heatwaves may persist longer than the typical summer duration.
While regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of West Bengal are projected to maintain normal temperatures, the core heatwave zone encompassing northern, central, western, and eastern central India is anticipated to experience above-normal maximum temperatures. Southern India, having encountered its warmest February on record, sets the stage for what is predicted to be an unusually hot summer.
Despite certain areas experiencing a predominantly dry February, the IMD forecasts potential rainfall in northern India due to the passage of western disturbances in the coming week. March is expected to commence with warm weather in southern regions, gradually intensifying into heatwave conditions in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, north interior Karnataka, and southern Maharashtra.
As the country gears up for the summer, the ENSO-neutral conditions anticipated during the approaching southwest monsoon season bring hope for a favourable and timely monsoon, crucial for India’s agricultural landscape.
