Hot summer ahead as IMD predicts above normal temperatures across India

In its summer forecast for March to May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday that day temperatures are likely to be above normal in North, northeast, parts of East and West India.

The weather department, however, added that there is a likelihood of below normal temperatures in South and central India.

“During the upcoming hot weather season (March to May), above normal seasonal maximum (day) temperatures are likely over most of the subdivisions of North, northwest and northeast India, few subdivisions from eastern and western parts of central India and few coastal subdivisions of north peninsular India,” the IMD forecast said.

Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, coastal Maharashtra, Goa and coastal Andhra Pradesh are likely to see above maximum temperatures in the coming days.

From Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East UP, West UP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand to Odisha, the temperature is expected to be above normal by more than 0.5 degree Celsius during March to May, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said.

“There is also a 60 per cent probability of above normal temperature over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi by 0.5 degree Celsius,” he said.

RELIEF IN PARTS OF SOUTH INDIA

There, however, is likely to be some relief in parts of South India as per IMD.

“Below normal seasonal maximum temperatures are likely over most of the subdivisions of south peninsula and adjoining central India,” the summer forecast added.

“Below normal season minimum temperatures are likely over most of the subdivisions of eastern part of the central India and few subdivisions of extreme northern part of the country,” the IMD added.

The forecast also said that La Nina conditions may sustain during the upcoming hot weather season. La Nina has an impact on the weather of the Indian sub-continent.

The second summer forecast for April to June will be released by the IMD in April.

WARMEST JANUARY IN 6 DECADES

The minimum temperature recorded in India in January was the warmest for the month in 62 years, the IMD had said earlier.

Central India was also the warmest (14.82 degrees Celsius) in the last 38 years after 1982 (14.92 degrees Celsius), while 1958 with 15.06 degrees Celsius was the warmest in the 1901-2021 period.