The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal temperatures in most parts of India in May.
“Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except many parts of southern peninsular India, and some parts of east India where normal to below normal maximum temperatures are likely,” the IMD said in a statement.
It also claimed that above normal heatwave days are likely over many parts of the northwest and central India and adjoining east India.
The number of heatwave days is likely to be above normal over many parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and some parts of Gujarat, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and adjoining Telangana and north Karnataka.
The weather agency, however, also predicts normal to above-normal rainfall in May.
“The normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over many parts of the country except some parts of northwest central, east and northeast India where below normal rainfall is likely,” it said.
The IMD had earlier warned that many states in central and eastern India are expected to experience more heatwave days between April and June.
The following states are likely to see above-normal heatwave days this summer: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
India’s hottest year on record was 2024 when the country experienced 554 heatwave days.
A heatwave condition occurs when the maximum temperature in the plains reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or is five degrees above normal.
