Amid the onset of summer, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a forecast predicting ‘extreme heat’ in several Indian states in the upcoming months.
Above-normal heatwave conditions are anticipated across most plains regions during this period, with expectations of experiencing 10 to 20 heatwave days in various parts of the country, compared to the normal range of four to eight days.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place between April 19 and June 1, which is going to be challenging for the voters.
These unusually high temperatures are likely to exacerbate the risk of water scarcity, crop damage, and increased coal usage to prevent power outages.
Furthermore, the Met Department has stated, “The rainfall outlook for April 2024, averaged nationally, indicates a probability of normal precipitation (88-112% of LPA). Normal to above-normal rainfall is expected across many areas of northwest India, as well as numerous regions of central India, northern peninsular India, and parts of eastern and northeastern India. Conversely, below-normal rainfall is anticipated along the east and west coasts, certain areas of eastern and northeastern India, and parts of west-central India.”
These extreme weather patterns will coincide with the Lok Sabha elections in India, where more than 1.4 billion citizens are scheduled to cast their votes across seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
Challenged Regions:
The forecast suggests an increased likelihood of above-normal heatwave occurrences across various regions in central India, as well as adjacent areas of the northern plains and southern India during April. The meteorological department has singled out Gujarat, central Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, northern Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh as the areas likely to bear the brunt of heatwave impacts.
Severe Impact on wheat-producing regions?
As of April 7, the IMD hasn’t issued any heatwave alerts for wheat-producing regions, with the exception of Madhya Pradesh. However, reports suggest that the prevailing weather pattern is expected to have minimal repercussions on winter-sown wheat crops, as they have reached maturity and harvesting has already commenced in many states. Additionally, the anticipation of a bumper harvest might compel authorities to consider relaxing export restrictions that have been enforced since 2022.
