The month of April was the hottest this year. For the first time since 1901, the heat wave lasted a maximum number of days in April in most parts of the country. There will be no respite from the scorching heat in May either. This month the mercury will rise even more in most regions of the country and the days of heat waves may also increase to 11 days. However, 2023 is considered to be the hottest year ever.
Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Marityunjay Mohapatra, gave this information while releasing the weather forecast for the month of May on Wednesday. He said that in April there was heat wave in two rounds from the 5th to the 7th and then from the 15th 30. The average temperature was recorded at 31 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in the east and northeast of India was recorded at 28.12 degrees Celsius for the first time since 1901. They also reported that Above normal maximum temperatures have become common in southern peninsular India since the 1980s.
Mahapatra said the heat wave may last for about 8-11 days in May in the regions of South Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh, Interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, North Interior Karnataka and Telangana are expected to experience Heat wave conditions for 5- most likely 7 days. Generally, a heat wave lasts for about three days in the month of May in the plains of North India, Central India and the surrounding areas of Peninsular India.
The heat is increasing due to less rain
The main reason for the heat and prolonged heat waves in the east, northeast and south of Peninsular India in April was the absence of rains and thunderstorms. Anti-cyclonic conditions formed over the low level over the West Bay of Bengal and the adjacent east coast of India resulted in reduced rainfall. Due to this weather phenomenon, winds coming from the sea did not blow towards Odisha and Bengal for a long time.
Normal rainfall forecast in May throughout the country
According to IMD, normal rainfall (91-109 percent of the long-term average) is expected in May. Northwest India, parts of central India, most parts of the peninsula and northeast India may receive above normal rainfall. Under the influence of five active Western Disturbances, North and Central India witnessed rain and hailstorm with thunder storms at regular intervals in the month of April.
Most heatwave days in Odisha, Bengal… Mohapatra said the number of heatwave days this April was the highest in 15 years on the banks of the Ganga in West Bengal and in nine years in Odisha. For the first time since 2016, the heat wave lasted a maximum of 16 days in the month of April in Odisha.
The temperature will be higher than usual
- IMD data shows there were more heatwave days in April this year than in 2023, which is the hottest year on record.
- Temperatures in May will be higher than normal in most parts of the country, however, maximum temperatures are expected to be normal and low in most parts of North East India, some parts of North West and Central India and areas adjacent to the North East Peninsula.
- The minimum temperatures will remain above normal in most parts of the country except North East India, some parts of North West India, Gangetic plains and central region.
It snowed in Rohtang and Kinnaur, rain in Kullu
Amid the yellow alert in Himachal Pradesh, it snowed in Rohtang and Kinnaur on Wednesday and heavy rain followed. The weather remained bad throughout the day in Lahaul-Kolo. Due to snowfall, vehicular traffic came to a standstill at Jaluri Pass. It was sunny throughout the day in other areas including the capital Shimla. The meteorological department predicted clear weather in most parts of the country on Thursday and Friday. A yellow warning for rain and snow has also been issued if the Western Disturbance becomes active again from May 4th and 5th.
