India To See Warmer Start For Summer This Year, Predicts IMD 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recently announced that temperatures throughout the country are expected to rise above normal levels from March to May, resulting in a particularly hot summer. The IMD predicts that the heatwave will be more prolonged than usual, which is attributed to the ongoing El Nino conditions.

El Nino is a phenomenon that causes higher-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It has been persisting since last year, and global models suggest that El Nino conditions will continue until May, transitioning to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions. Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, remarked that “above normal maximum temperatures will dominate the summer season in most parts of the country. Despite the waning El Nino conditions, it will continue to influence temperatures, prolonging heatwaves.”

Fortunately, certain regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and southern and central West Bengal are expected to maintain temperatures within the normal range. However, this year’s heatwaves are anticipated to be longer than usual.

The northern, central, western, and eastern central regions constitute India’s Core Heatwave Zone. Southern India experienced its warmest February on record, with temperatures surpassing normal values for maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures. Central India also missed winter chills, with February recording the highest monthly minimum temperatures at 16.62 degrees Celsius. The IMD observed a predominantly dry February across the country.

It is expected that March will begin with warm weather in southern India, while northern India may experience rainfall due to the passing of western disturbances next week. The heatwave conditions are projected to intensify in the latter part of March, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, north interior Karnataka, and southern Maharashtra.

As the southwest monsoon approaches, ENSO-neutral conditions are expected, creating favourable oceanic conditions. This development bodes well for the upcoming monsoon season.