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New Delhi: Scorching summer days have hit India in March itself with 2022 recording its warmest March days in 121 years, an analysis by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reportedly shown. IMD officials said a prolonged dry spell has led to severe hot weather conditions in northwest India. According to IMD data, March 2022, was the warmest March in the country’s documented history since 1901.
The average day temperature of March this year surpassed all the past heat records.
Parts of Delhi sweltered under a severe heatwave on Thursday (March 31) with the maximum temperature crossing the 41-degree mark at three places. On Friday, the maximum temperature recorded at the capital was 36.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, the IMD said. The minimum temperature settled at 21.4 degrees Celsius, also three notches above the season’s average.
Meanwhile, March 2020 was also one of the warmest March for the northwestern region of India and the second warmest region in central India. This year, both regions have witnessed consecutive heatwaves, resulting in the start of an early summer.
According to a report published by sources, Rajendra Jenamani, scientist, National Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD said that even in India, climate change is influencing the severity and length of extreme weather, be it in the form of heatwaves, cyclones strength, or heavy rainfall.
Jenamani stated that dry spells had become longer in certain cases, severe rain volumes have increased, and hot spells have become hotter.
Rajendra Jenamani said that this year’s second half of March had unusually warm daytime temperatures in several regions of the country, but few rain showers. In March, locations like Delhi, Haryana, and northern hill stations had episodes of above-normal day temperatures, Rajendra Jenamani added.
Meanwhile, in March 2022, several places like Delhi, Jammu, Dharamsala, Patiala, Dehradun, Kota, Gwalior and Pune witnessed record-breaking day temperatures.
