IMD warns of more heatwave days in many states, April to get above normal rainfall in the country, brining down temp in certain parts | India News

NEW DELHI: Many parts of the country may not be hotter than normal during the April-June summer season due to normal to ‘below normal’ maximum (day) temperatures, but most parts of eastern, northeastern and coastal peninsular India may experience an extended heat wave period of two to eight days. IMD Tuesday said.“Normal heatwave days are expected between April and June over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, coastal Tamil Nadu and northern parts of Karnataka,” IMD chief Mrityunjay Mohan said during the season.The forecast map released by the Meteorological Department, even shows additional heatwave days in Delhi-NCR but the event is likely to be confined to May-June as many parts of India, including the northwest, may receive more than normal rainfall due to the prevailing and predicted western disturbance.A weather station is considered a heat wave when the maximum temperature is at least 40°C or more for plains and at least 30°C or more for hilly areas. Many parts of the plains usually experience three to five days of heatwave during April-June.Temperatures may drop below normal in most parts of the country during the day, but nights are likely to be warmer. “During the season (April-June), most parts of the country may experience below-normal minimum (night) temperatures, except for some areas of Maharashtra and Telangana where below normal to normal minimum temperatures are likely,” said Mohapatra.Although the IMD chief prefers not to say anything about the monsoon season at this juncture, the latest forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) suggest that El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions may continue between April and June.“Subsequently, the probability of development of El Nino conditions gradually increases,” the IMD said – an indication that its adverse impact on rainfall may hit the later part of the monsoon season in August-September. The IMD is expected to release the first phase forecast for this year’s monsoon rainfall in mid-April.IMD data shows as many as 45 deaths due to extreme weather in many states in March. A maximum of 32 people died due to lightning in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Kerala.Talking about March, Mohapatra said eight Western Disturbances (WDs) impacted India during the month, compared to the normal 5-6.Six WDs affected northwest India during 11–31 March, causing light to moderate rainfall with thundershowers, thundershowers, gusty winds and hail over northwest and adjoining central parts of the country.Large-scale thunderstorm activity occurred over many parts of the country mainly in the second half of the month and this led to maximum temperature drop in most parts of India.