India braces for extended heatwaves again as summer heat expected to strain power systems

In many parts of central, northern and eastern India, there may be more heatwave days this year than the historical average

India is bracing for another summer of prolonged and deadly heatwaves, as its weather office warns of above-normal temperatures and significantly more days of extreme heat in many parts of the country from April to June.

This year, states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha could see up to 11 days of heatwaves, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Heatwave days are defined as prolonged periods of exceptionally hot weather.

In many parts of central, northern and eastern India, there may be more heatwave days than the historical average, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the chief of IMD, said during a press briefing this week.

"From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of north-west India are expected to experience two-to-four more heatwave days than normal," he added.

The warning follows what has already been an unusually warm start to the year. February was among the hottest on record worldwide, as well as in India, putting wheat crops at risk with many states reporting minimum temperatures 1-3C above normal.

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