Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/NEW DEHLI: India is projected to witness a blistering summer since 1901 after experiencing its hottest February.
According to India’s weather agency, the average maximum temperature of 29.5C was recorded in February, the highest in India since it started keeping weather records. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an “increased probability” of heatwaves between March and May. The heatwave may impact wheat yield, and the electricity demand may increase.
The IMD said on Tuesday that “above normal maximum temperatures are predicted over the majority of northeast India, east and central India, and some sections of northwest India” from March to May.
The forecast comes days after the meteorological department issued and later cancelled its first heatwave warning of the season in some areas of western India as circumstances improved. India frequently has hot summers and heat waves, particularly in May and June. While previous March was India’s warmest month since 1901, this year’s summer appears to be starting earlier than last.
Violent heatwaves predicted
Scientists have also noted that longer-lasting, more violent heatwaves occur more frequently in India. India had to ban wheat exports the year before because the crop was harmed by scorching weather, which caused local prices to skyrocket.
The federal government established a committee in February to track how the high temperatures impact this year’s harvest. At the time, a government official who was not identified was quoted by Reuters as saying that “the current crop status seems good.”
India is the second-largest producer of wheat globally. Last year’s high temperatures also sparked a rise in electricity demand, resulting in outages across many states. According to Bloomberg, the electricity demand has already surpassed recent records this year.
Numerous experts have also expressed concern about how poverty affects those who frequently labour outside and have fewer cooling options. “Heat waves can have severe effects on your health. Even at night, high temperatures prevent the body from recovering, increasing the risk of illness and driving up medical costs,
“Environmental scientist Dr. Chandni Singh told the BBC last year. In India, heat-related mortality increased by 55% between 2000–2004 and 2017–2021, according to a study published in The Lancet last year.
