India Anticipates Warmer Summer and Increased Heatwave Days, IMD Forecasts

India braces for a warmer summer and an uptick in heatwave occurrences until at least May, as per the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD’s seasonal weather outlook for the period from March to May 2024 suggests above-normal maximum temperatures across most parts of the nation.

During this period, a higher-than-usual number of heatwave days is expected across many regions of India, excluding northeast India, the western Himalayan region, the southwest peninsula, and the west coast. Additionally, most parts of the country are anticipated to witness above-normal minimum temperatures.

March is likely to bring above-normal rainfall, exceeding 117 percent of the long-period average of 29.9 mm. The IMD warns of increased heatwave occurrences in several states, notably Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and certain parts of Tamil Nadu during the March to May timeframe.

Furthermore, northeast peninsular India, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and north interior Karnataka, along with various regions of Maharashtra and Odisha, are expected to witness more heatwave days than normal.

For March, the IMD predicts above-normal rainfall in most areas, with normal to above-normal precipitation anticipated in the majority of regions. However, below-normal rainfall is forecasted for extreme southeastern regions of the South Peninsula and parts of the Northeast and extreme Northwest areas.

The IMD assures that heatwave conditions are not anticipated over north and central India in March. Moreover, the impact of eight western disturbances, cyclonic storms originating from the Mediterranean region and beyond, affected weather patterns in western Himalayan states during February.