New Delhi, April 01, 2025.
The India Meteorological Department has forecasted an intense heatwave this summer, with above normal temperatures expected across most of the country.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the India Meteorological Department, said several states would experience more heatwave days than usual this year, which may last 10-11 days in central and eastern India.
The department has indicated that the temperature is expected to be higher than usual between April and June this year. Minimum temperatures are also likely to be above normal.
On Monday, the IMD raised concerns that heatwave days could increase in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, northern Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu during April-June.
IMD has ruled out El Nino conditions for the upcoming monsoon but has warned of an exceptionally hot summer ahead. El Nino is a climate pattern where the sea surface temperature in the central Pacific Ocean rises above normal, leading to changes in global weather patterns.
According to IMD data, by March 31, the country had received 20.1 mm of rainfall. This is the 27th lowest rainfall since 1901 and the 10th lowest since 2001.
The temperature this March remained normal or below-normal range throughout the country, except over parts of central India and the southern peninsular part of the country, said IMD. The department will release the first stage long-range monsoon forecast for the year in a fortnight.
