Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 31: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning about an exceptionally hot summer ahead, with a significant rise in heatwave days expected across the country. From April to June, India could experience six to ten heatwave days, increasing to 10-11 by June—far above the usual four to seven days seen during this period.

The hardest-hit areas are expected to be in the east-central region, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, and parts of Gujarat. The IMD has predicted that both day and night temperatures across most of India will remain above normal in April. While typically, one to three heatwave days occur in April, this year could see three to six, with no relief expected until after April 10.

March has already recorded an average temperature 0.78 degrees Celsius above the long-period average (LPA). IMD’s Director General of Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, attributes this rise to insufficient western disturbances and the broader effects of climate change. India’s vulnerability to extreme heat was evident from March 10 to 18 when temperatures soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius in several states.

A heatwave is officially declared when temperatures in the plains exceed 40 degrees Celsius and remain 4.5 to 6.5 degrees Celsius above normal. The increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves in recent years raise serious concerns, with studies linking this trend to global warming.

Despite the scorching forecast, the IMD expects April's rainfall to be normal, marking a recovery from March’s 32.6 percent deficit. The department has also ruled out an El Niño effect this summer, which typically leads to hotter temperatures and weaker monsoon rains.