Hottest April in 122 years, no respite in May: Weather department

Northwest and central India experienced their hottest April in 122 years with average maximum temperatures reaching 35.9 and 37.78 degrees Celsius respectively, the weather office said on Saturday.

The average temperatures observed pan-India for April was 35.05 degrees, which was the fourth highest in 122 years, according to the India Meteorological Department.

India's weather forecasting agency also said that northwest and west central parts of the country - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana - will continue to experience above normal temperatures in May as well.

Nights would be warmer in May in most parts of the country, except some regions of south peninsular India.

Speaking about rainfall, India Meteorological Department's Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the average rainfall in May 2022 over the country is most likely to be above normal but parts of northwest and northeast India as well as the extreme southeast peninsula are expected to get below normal rainfall.

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The high temperatures in March and April were attributed to 'continuously scanty rainfall activity', he said.

In March, northwest India recorded a deficit in rainfall of around 89%, while the deficit was nearly 83% in April, mainly on account of feeble and dry western disturbances.