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March-May period likely to be hotter than normal: India Meteorological Department
Details
- The forecast indicates that the MAM (March-May) season averaged temperatures are likely to be at least half a degree hotter than normal over northwest, west and central India and some parts of south India
- Above normal heat wave conditions are also likely in the core heat wave (HW) zone during the season (March-May)
- A hot summer, experts say, is a key factor to a timely monsoon.
- However, the impact of a warming ocean and its impact on the monsoon is likely to be better apparent around April when the IMD issues its first forecast for the monsoon.
- The southwest monsoon in 2019 (June to September) delivered 10 per cent above average rainfall in the country, the highest in 25 years.
- In 1994, the rainfall was 110 per cent during the June-September period.
- Before that, more than 10 per cent above average rainfall was witnessed in 1990 (119 per cent).