Several parts of India are already experiencing unusually high temperatures as early heatwave conditions spread across western and northern regions of the country. According to the India Meteorological Department, many areas recorded significantly above-normal maximum temperatures on March 11, with some regions facing severe heatwave conditions.
The most intense conditions were reported in parts of Gujarat, particularly in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions, where temperatures surged far above seasonal averages. Major cities including Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar recorded maximum temperatures that were 7.2 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal respectively.
Meteorologists said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions have also affected isolated areas in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The weather department warned that these conditions are likely to continue in several parts of Gujarat until March 13.
Northern parts of the country are also experiencing unusually warm weather. Large areas of Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi recorded markedly above-normal temperatures, meaning daytime highs were more than 5 degrees Celsius higher than usual for this time of year.
According to the weather department, similar temperature patterns were observed in several other regions including Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and coastal regions of Goa and Konkan.
Weather officials had already warned about the possibility of an intense summer season. In its monthly forecast released in late February, the India Meteorological Department predicted that many parts of India could experience above-normal heatwave days between March and May.
The department also noted that isolated areas in Assam, Meghalaya and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir also recorded higher than normal temperatures during the same period.
Meteorologists continue to monitor the situation closely as rising temperatures early in the season may affect agriculture, water availability, and public health across several regions of the country.