It’s March, yet Northern and Northwestern India already feel like July. On Sunday, New Delhi reached a high of 38 degrees; Rajasthan has been experiencing a heatwave for a week, while Jammu and Uttarakhand had heatwaves for a brief period last week.
Climatology of Heatwaves
With spring coming in to replace winters, the maximum temperature in India exhibits an increasing tendency following the winter solstice, beginning in the south and moving north, first in the south, then central India, and finally the northern states.
In India, March marks the start of the summer season. The primary heatwave zone encompasses central Indian states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, West Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, and the highest temperature peaks in April-May. Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Odisha, and sections of Gangetic West Bengal, Telangana, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh are among the states. Odisha and Gujarat have the highest heating zones. Furthermore, scorching winds from India’s desert area add to rising temperatures.
Every year, several parts in south-eastern and north-western India suffer up to eight heatwaves throughout the summer. Heatwaves are less common in north-eastern, extreme north, and southern India.
Heatwave in March
Last week, a heatwave swept from Jammu to the Kutch-Saurashtra area, encompassing Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. The heatwave lasted for a long time and eventually expanded to Gujarat, North Maharashtra, and finally to Gujarat’s heartland.
Rajasthan. Heatwaves were carried to the south and southwest by southerly winds. Functional western disturbances bringing chilly winds were also absent. As a result, temperatures in Jammu, Rajasthan, and adjacent states remained above average.
There is no reprieve in the form of rain or thunderstorms.
The lack of pre-monsoon precipitation has aided in the overall temperature. In India as a whole, there is an 83 percent rain deficit. As of March 21, only Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands had received more rain. Andaman is experiencing historic rainfall as a result of Cyclone Asani.
Northwest India received less than 86 percent of its annual rainfall, while the east and northeast India received less than 86 percent. This year’s rainfall was – 92 percent. There was a negative 84% in central India and a minus 40% on the South Peninsula.
Antarctica is being affected by a heatwave.
Antarctica, the world’s coldest continent, is experiencing a heatwave, with surface air temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius.
The southern pole registered a temperature increase between – 18 and minus 12 degrees, which climate scientists describe as unusual.
Concordia, an Antarctic meteorological station, recorded temperatures 50 degrees above average. Warm westerly winds exceeding the Southern Ocean and reaching the interior portions of Antarctica are thought to be the cause of the temperature rise.
The authored article is written by Sejal Wakkar and shared with Prittle Prattle News exclusively.
