New Delhi: The period between April and June, considered to be the real summer season, may prove to be more hot this year as average temperatures are expected to be above normal, according to a India Meteorological Department.

According to the department, the said temperatures in the eastern, east-central and southern part of India will likely be lower than the usual records. The said areas also include Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The report also conveys that the onset of the monsoon will be on time.

The indication of “above normal” average temperatures prediction suggests that the warming of this summer season in northern and central India would be on the same pattern as seen over the last few years.

As per the records of IMD and other meteorological institutes spread across the country, last year was hottest year so far.

As per the previous year record in 2016, it was the hottest year since 1901. The same year, Phalodi of Rajasthan had recorded 51 degree Celsius, the highest-ever recorded in India by then.

According to the IMD prediction, this years’ summer will prove to be slightly lower temperature than it was in 2017 despite being above “above normal”.

“Upcoming Hot Weather Season (April to June-AMJ) is expected to have the above normal sub-divisional average seasonal temperatures over most of the meteorological subdivisions of the country except the subdivisions of eastern, east central and southern parts for the country that are likely to experience slightly below normal seasonal temperatures,” the IMD said in a report bulletin.

The mercury has already started rocketing, will readings reaching 40 degree Celsius in many parts of India, including in the Capital, in March, despite the fact that this is not considered as the summer season. This was the main reason which compelled the IMD to issue a forecast on February 28.

As per the comment of IMD Director-General KJ Ramesh, thunderstorms in east, east-central and southern India will keep these parts cooler.

“This is also an indication that the onset of monsoon will be on time,” M Rajeevan, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said.

Over the past few years, many of thousands people got killed in parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana due to severe heat-wave conditions there. About 4,624 people died due to heat-wave between 2013 and 2017, of which 92 per cent of casualties were reported from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana according to a government data released last year.

“The AMJ seasonal average temperatures in most of the meteorological subdivisions are likely to be cooler than that of last year. Normal heatwave conditions are likely over core heat-wave zone of the country,” the IMD bulletin added.

This, however, does not convey the meaning that there will be no heat-waves this year. “Usually, there are three-four heat-waves every year. This year, we expect it to remain the same,” Rajeevan added.

Central and northern India are considered, in general, the core heat-wave zones.

A heat-wave is a period of high temperatures for being in abnormal conditions, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the areas of north-western parts of India, according to information provided on the website of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

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