Representative image
(Sinhil Sakhare/BCCL, Aurangabad)
Summer has officially arrived in India, heralding the arrival of March with its special heat and promises of mild days and hot nights. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released its monthly forecast, providing valuable insights into the weather patterns that lie ahead.
Initially, temperatures are expected to be above normal during the day across most parts of the peninsula, north-east and west-central India and many parts of north-west India, paving the way for a strong start to the season.
On the other hand, most parts of eastern, eastern and central India and some parts of northwest India may find solace in normal to below normal maximum temperatures.
Days of above-average heatwaves are looming in several regions, particularly in northeastern peninsular India, Maharashtra, Odisha and adjoining areas, raising concerns about the impending summer heat. For context, the IMD declares heatwaves when the daytime mercury level rises significantly above the regional average.
Nights will also be warm across the country, with above-normal minimum temperatures expected everywhere except isolated pockets along the Himalayas, where minimum temperatures are likely to be normal to below normal.
Fortunately, some relief from the heat will be provided due to some unseasonal rainfall activity. In fact, average rainfall during March 2024 over the country as a whole is likely to be above normal, around 117% of the long period average (LPA) for the month.
Rainfall rates in most areas are expected to range between normal and above normal. However, there are exceptions in the extreme south-eastern areas of the southern peninsula and selected areas of north-eastern and extreme north-western India, where less than normal rainfall is expected.
Looking ahead, above-average temperatures and impending heatwaves expected in March portend a challenging summer. Full forecasts for the upcoming summer season can be found here here.
As the nation braces for rising mercury, it is essential to prioritize safety and adopt measures to mitigate the impact of the scorching days ahead.
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