The IMD has warned of more heatwaves in many states and the country will receive above-normal rainfall in April, causing temperatures to drop in some areas

NEW DELHI: Many parts of the country may not get hotter than usual during the April-June summer period due to normal to “below normal” maximum (daytime) temperatures, but most parts of eastern, northeastern and coastal peninsula India are likely to experience heat wave duration of two to eight days, In-mold development department said Tuesday.“The number of heat wave days is expected to be above normal in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, coastal Tamil Nadu and northern Karnataka from April to June,” IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said while releasing the seasonal outlook for the three-month period.The forecast map released by the Met Office shows an increase in the number of heatwave days even in the Delhi National Capital Territory, but the heatwave conditions are likely to be restricted to May-June as rainfall is likely to be above normal in many parts of India, including the north-west, in April due to prevailing and predicted western disturbances.A heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature at weather stations reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or more in plain areas and 30 degrees Celsius or more in hilly areas. Between April and June, many areas of the Plains typically experience three to five days of heat waves.Daytime temperatures are likely to be below normal across much of the country, but nights are likely to be warm. “During this season (April to June), the minimum temperature (nighttime) is likely to be above normal in most parts of the country, but below normal in parts of Maharashtra and Telangana,” Mohapatra said.Although the IMD chief would not reveal any information about the monsoon season at this time, the latest forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) indicate that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions are most likely to persist from April to June.“Thereafter, the probability of El Niño occurrence gradually increases,” the IMD said, indicating that the adverse impact of El Niño on rainfall may occur later in the monsoon season in August-September. The IMD is expected to release the first phase forecast of this year’s monsoon rainfall around mid-April.IMD data shows that as many as 45 people died in March due to extreme weather events in many states. Up to 32 people were killed by lightning in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.Talking about March, Mohapatra said that India was affected by 8 Western Disturbances (WD) this month as against the normal 5 to 6 times.Six westerly rainstorms hit northwestern India between March 11 and 31, causing light to moderate rains in the northwest and adjacent central regions of the country, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hail.Large-scale thunderstorm activity occurred in many places in India, mainly in the second half of the month, causing the maximum temperature to drop in most parts of India.