The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a hot summer season ahead. In the months of April, May and June, above normal maximum temperatures are likely over north, northwest and some parts of east central India. Above normal minimum temperatures are also likely over few subdivisions along the west coast and west India. 

IMD, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, issued this forecast of a hot summer season for large parts of the country in its ‘Seasonal Outlook for the Temperatures during April to June 2021’, which was released yesterday on March 31. 

However, below normal seasonal maximum temperatures are likely over most of the subdivisions of south peninsular India and few subdivisions of east, northeast and extreme north India, the weather department noted.

Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are likely to witness above normal maximum temperatures during April to June this year, whereas South India, Gangetic West Bengal, Sikkim & Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, J&K and Ladakh are likely to experience below normal maximum temperatures in this period. 

Yesterday, March 31, Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s capital, recored a maximum temperature of 44.6 degree Celsius as heat wave swept across the state. The city broke the all-time record of temperature in March since its establishment in 1948. The previous record of maximum temperature was 42.2 degrees Celsius on March 21, 2016.

Last month, the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was engulfed in massive forest fires, which were being blamed on the sudden rise in temperature in the state.

Also Read: Odisha forest fires: Similipal Tiger Reserve continues to burn; Kuldiha sanctuary in flames too

Meanwhile, on Monday, March 29, the national capital of Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 40.1 degree Celsius, the highest temperature record in March in last 76 years.