The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued predictions of potential heatwave conditions across multiple states in South India as summer intensifies.
From April 3 to April 6, the IMD forecasts heatwave conditions over peninsular India. Hot and humid weather is expected over Coastal Karnataka, Kerala & Mahe, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry & Karaikal during this period, along with Telangana and South Interior Karnataka until April 4, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, and Rayalaseema on April 2 and April 3.
Isolated pockets in north interior Karnataka are likely to experience heatwave conditions from April 3 to April 5, while parts of Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to face heatwaves.
The IMD also predicts above-normal heatwaves in many parts of the northern plains, particularly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, North Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, North Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of Meteorology at IMD, mentioned in a press briefing that normal rainfall is expected in April across the country. He highlighted that above-normal maximum temperatures are likely, especially in central India and western peninsular India, while normal to below-normal maximum temperatures may occur in parts of the western Himalayan region, northeast states, and north Odisha.
Regarding heatwave conditions, Mohapatra stated that above-normal heatwave days are expected across the country, with 10 to 20 days of heatwaves anticipated in different regions, compared to the normal range of 4 to 8 days.