India is experiencing a temporary respite from the intense heatwave that has plagued the country for weeks. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heatwave conditions are unlikely until Monday, bringing some relief to regions like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in these areas since mid-May, following their onset in eastern India in mid-April. Average temperatures have been soaring between 45-47°C, but humidity and hot winds have made the days feel even hotter. On Wednesday, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh recorded severe heatwaves. Parts of Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar also recorded heatwaves, with maximum temperatures hovering in the range of 43-45°C, 4-7°C above normal. The highest maximum temperature of 45.1°C was reported at Kanpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The IMD warned that temperatures in eastern Uttar Pradesh could rise by another 2-3°C after two days. However, eastern India is set to cool down with a 2-3°C fall in maximum temperatures over the next two days. The weather bureau stated, “There will likely be no significant change in maximum temperatures for the rest of the country.” Warm nights are expected in parts of northern Rajasthan until Saturday, while Odisha is likely to experience hot and humid weather until Friday.
New Delhi has recorded a day temperature above 44°C for 10 days, including a stretch of one week from June 12-18. The highest temperature this month was 45.2°C on June 17th, and the lowest was 41.2°C on June 6th. June 2024 has witnessed an unprecedented prolonged spell of scorching heat, potentially heading for the hottest month on record. Some relief is anticipated during the last week of the month. Earlier, the capital city recorded its warmest night of the last 14 years on June 18, 2024, with a minimum temperature of 34.8°C, about 7°C above normal. The minimum temperature has been in excess of 33°C for four consecutive days between June 16 and 19, leading to extended spells of hot and humid nights.
Regarding the southwest monsoon, the IMD reported that it has further advanced into parts of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Northwest Bay of Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and some parts of Bihar. Conditions are favorable for further advance into parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat State, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Northwest Bay of Bengal, some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, remaining parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, some parts of Jharkhand, some more parts of Bihar, and some parts of East Uttar Pradesh over the next three to four days.
The IMD declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on May 31st, one day before its usual date, attributing it to cyclone Remal formed in the Bay of Bengal. While the monsoon is progressing faster than usual over the Peninsula, it is yet to pick up pace in eastern India. The onset date for Delhi is June 30th, and July 5th or after for Rajasthan. Rainfall across the country since June 1st has been 17% deficient.
The southwest monsoon brings nearly 70% of the rain India needs for its farms and to refill reservoirs and aquifers. Its timely arrival is crucial for India’s agricultural sector, considering that about 56% of the net cultivated area and 44% of food production depend on monsoon rainfall. Normal precipitation is imperative for robust crop production, maintaining stable food prices, especially for vegetables, and bolstering economic growth. Agriculture contributes about 14% to India’s gross domestic product, underscoring the importance of a favorable monsoon for economic growth.
