There will be more than usual heatwave days over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, East Uttar Pradesh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and coastal Gujarat
May, generally the hottest month in most of India, is likely to be particularly scorching in large parts of eastern India but Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat — while still sizzling — are likely to see increased rain and limited heatwaves, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on April 28.
“Normal to above-normal rainfall is expected over northwest India, parts of west-central India and the northern part of peninsular India,” the IMD’s monthly-outlook statement said. “Below-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of northeast India, east-central India and south peninsular.”
There will be more than usual heatwave days over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, East Uttar Pradesh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and coastal Gujarat. Heatwaves in these parts of India do not see mercury levels rise as high as in north and northwest India but greater humidity levels combined with the heat, pose a relatively higher health risk.
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Rainfall in May is likely to be “normal” or within a 10% window of what’s usual for the month, the statement added. Heatwaves are defined by temperatures being persistently over 45 degrees Celsius or 4-5 degrees more than what’s normal for a region.