New Delhi - India experienced a surge in temperatures on Sunday, with several regions seeing well above-average heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that temperatures reached 42-45 degrees Celsius in various parts of the country, including Odisha, Rayalaseema, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

This marked the second heatwave episode this month, following an earlier spell that affected areas like Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. The soaring heat has sparked concerns about increased strain on power grids and potential water shortages in some regions.

The IMD noted that in parts of Odisha and Rayalaseema, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, maximum temperatures ranged between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, in other parts of India such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Uttar Pradesh, temperatures varied from 40 to 42 degrees Celsius.

Maximum temperatures in Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha were 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal, while temperatures in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Telangana were 2 to 4 degrees above normal. This extreme heatwave represents the second such occurrence in April, with the previous one affecting areas like Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.

On Sunday, specific regions experienced significant heat, with Bahargora in Jharkhand reaching 46 degrees Celsius, Baripada in Odisha hitting 44.6 degrees, and Bankura in West Bengal reaching 44.5 degrees. Additionally, Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh recorded 44 degrees Celsius, and Washim in Vidarbha 43.6 degrees.

According to the IMD, a heatwave occurs when the maximum temperature in the plains reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius, in coastal areas at least 37 degrees Celsius, and in hilly regions at least 30 degrees Celsius, with a deviation from the norm of at least 4.5 degrees. A severe heatwave is declared when the deviation exceeds 6.4 degrees.

With the ongoing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had warned of extreme heat during April-June, a critical period when about a billion people are expected to vote in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. The first phase of elections took place on April 19.

The IMD has projected four to eight heatwave days in various parts of India in April, compared to the usual one to three days. Over the entire April-June period, there could be 10 to 20 heatwave days, a significant increase from the typical four to eight days. Regions likely to experience more heatwave days include Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Some areas could see more than 20 heatwave days.

The intense heat could stress power grids and lead to water shortages in certain parts of the country. Global weather agencies, including the IMD, expect La Nina conditions to develop later in the year.

El Nino, which involves periodic warming of the central Pacific Ocean, is linked with weaker monsoons and drier conditions in India, while La Nina, the opposite of El Nino, generally brings ample rainfall during the monsoon season.

The IMD's mid-April update indicated that India might experience above-normal rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season due to La Nina conditions, expected to take hold by August-September. The monsoon is vital for India's agricultural sector, with 52% of the country's cultivated area reliant on it. It's also key to refilling reservoirs crucial for drinking water and power generation across the country.