New Delhi: Northwest and central India, and parts of the northeast are expected to experience maximum temperatures above normal in April, the weather office said on Thursday.
According to India Meteorological Department Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, normal to below normal maximum temperatures are likely to prevail in south peninsular India, several parts of eastern India along with the adjoining areas of the northeast.
Notably, India has experienced two heatwaves in the month of March, the first between March 11 and 21 when the maximum temperatures reached five to 11 degrees above normal and the second heatwave started on March 26 and is continuing with the highest day temperatures being five to nine degrees above normal.
As per weather data, except for coastal peninsular areas, almost all of India received deficit rainfall in March.
Normal rainfall for March is 39.3 mm, which is the long period average of rainfall between 1961 and 2010.
As per the weather office forecast, India is expected to receive normal rainfall of the long period average (LPA) in the month of April.
IMD further said that northwest and central India and some parts of northeast India are expected to receive below-normal rainfall in April.
“Normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over many parts of south Peninsula, western parts of central India and parts of northeast India,” the weather office said.