India Experienced Warmest February This Year Since 1877: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday India reported the warmest February this year since 1877 with average maximum temperatures touching 29.54 degrees celsius.

The monthly average minimum temperature over the Indian region was the fifth highest during this February since 1901.

While linking it with global warming, the weather office said, “Most parts of the country are expected to experience above-normal temperatures while the southern peninsula and parts of Maharashtra are likely to escape the brunt of harsh weather conditions”.

Addressing a virtual press conference, the Head of the Hydromet and Agromet Advisory Services of IMD, S C Bhan said, “The entire globe is living in an era of global warming”.

He further said, “There was little probability of heat waves in March, but most parts of the country could experience extreme weather conditions in April and May”.

Mr. S C Bhan stated, “Rainfall average over the country is most likely to be normal (83-117 percent of long period average) in March”.

“The LPA of rainfall over the country as a whole during March based on data from 1971-2020 is about 29.9 mm”, he added.

Further, he said, “Below-normal rainfall was expected over most areas of northwest India, west-central India, and some parts of east and northeast India”.

Normal to above-normal rainfall

Normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of peninsular India, east-central India, and some isolated pockets of northeast India.

The Head of the Hydromet and Agromet Advisory Services of IMD stated, “Currently, La Nina conditions were prevailing over the equatorial Pacific region, which was expected to weaken and turn to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions during the pre-monsoon season”.

Further, he said, “It was too early to forecast the impact of El Nino conditions on the monsoon season”.

“April would be a better time to forecast the impact of El Nino on the monsoon. We will issue a forecast in mid-April,” he added.

(With input from PTI)

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