India Braces for Temperature Surge in Next 5 Days, Warns IMD

In its advisory, the IMD predicted a "gradual rise in maximum temperature by 2-4 degrees Celsius over most of the country over the next 5 days. Thunderstorms and heavy winds are also expected across Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh over the next two days.

"Thunderstorms with gusty winds are likely over Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh over the next two days, then subside," the statement stated.

The weather service predicted earlier this month that several portions of the country, with the exception of the northwest and peninsular regions, would see above-normal maximum temperatures from April through June.

"A significantly higher number of heatwave days are predicted over parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana," said Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, Director General of the IMD.

Climate warming raises global temperatures while increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather occurrences. According to the IMD, India had its hottest February since records began in 1901. However, above-normal rainfall from seven western disturbances, five of which were severe, held temperatures in control in March. 

Crops were damaged in several regions of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and other states due to a protracted run of pre-monsoon rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning strikes.