IMD warns of 'double heatwave' this summer. What is it?
What's the story
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an alert for an unusually hot summer season, especially over West and Central India.
IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy elaborated that Northwest India usually has five to six heatwave days, but this year, they are expecting 10 to 12 days, which is double the normal.
Temperature predictions
IMD's forecast for the upcoming hot weather season
The IMD has predicted above-normal maximum temperatures in the upcoming hot weather season (March-May) over most parts of India.
However, they are expecting normal to below-normal maximum temperatures in some southern parts of Peninsular India and isolated pockets of Northeast India.
For March 2025, the IMD predicts monthly maximum temperatures will be above normal across most parts of India except certain southernmost regions where below-normal maximum temperatures are expected.
Regional variations
Delhi records hottest March day
Delhi sweltered on March 26, the warmest day of 2025, as the temperature climbed to a sweltering 40.5°C.
The Ridge observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, which is 6.3 notches above usual, on Wednesday.
It surpassed Tuesday's record of 37.1 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperature for the month in 2024 was recorded on March 29 at 37.8 degrees Celsius.