Did March feel a little warmer than usual? Here’s why

It is hardly the end of spring and India’s weather bureau has already predicted heatwaves across northwest India over the next 2-3 days.

People living in places like Delhi, western Rajasthan, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, parts of Saurashtra, Kutch and western Madhya Pradesh have been experiencing a warmer March. In the past few days, maximum temperatures have been 4°C to 6°C above normal with temperatures soaring above 40°C in some cities.

The higher temperatures and heatwave conditions are being attributed to scarce rainfall in March. According to the Met Dept, the rainfall deficit in March so far stands at 72% to 88% over northwest India, 85% over central India, 59% over east and northeast India, and 14% over the south peninsula.

On March 1, the met department had predicted normal rainfall, i.e 83%-117% for the month across the country.

Another reason for the rise in mercury levels in north India according to the weather dept is the hot wind blowing from Pakistan and Rajasthan.

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The Met dept said that sometimes moist winds from Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea bring light showers and break the heat spell but that has not happened this year. A prolonged dry spell has been predicted.