India is staring at an unusually early summer as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of a significant spike in mercury levels.
By the first week of March, several regions are expected to experience temperatures typically seen much later in the season.
IS THE SUMMER HEAT ARRIVING EARLY THIS YEAR?
The transition from a mild winter to a scorching spring is happening faster than anticipated.
According to the IMD, maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius over the plains of Northwest and Central India during the next five days.
Independent weather expert Navdeep Dahiya also notes that the first week of March is set to mark an early onset of summer in India by Holi.
He predicts that the temperature anomaly will be 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal for some places.
WHY IS THE TEMPERATURE RISING SO QUICKLY?
A combination of atmospheric factors is driving this premature heat. The IMD highlights that maximum temperature departures are already 3 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
Dahiya attributes this to the absence of active western disturbances and the strengthening of an anti-cyclonic circulation over West India.
While a feeble western disturbance might bring light snowfall to Jammu and Kashmir between March 4 and 6, it will be too weak to provide widespread relief.
HOW WILL INDIA’S WEATHER BE DURING HOLI?
As India prepares for Holi on March 4, the weather is expected to be significantly warmer.
The IMD projects day temperatures in Northwest India to be in the range of 35 degrees Celsius, which is 3 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal.
Dahiya expects the first 40 degrees Celsius of the season in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh between March 4 and 10.
In North India, temperatures could reach 39 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan Holi onwards, with no relief expected in the first two weeks of the month.
