India faced 536 heatwave days this summer, marking the highest number in 14 years. According to the India Meteorological Department on Monday, the northwestern region experienced its hottest June last month since 1901.
The nation experienced 181 heatwave days in June, the most since 177 days in 2010, said IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra at a virtual press conference.
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"In 2024 summer, India experienced a total of 536 heatwave days, the highest after 2010 (578 days). In June, it experienced 181 heatwave days, surpassing 2010 (177 days)," he said.
Mohapatra reported that the monthly average maximum temperature in northwest India was 38.02 degrees Celsius, which is 1.96 degrees Celsius higher than usual. The average minimum temperature was 25.44 degrees Celsius, 1.35 degrees Celsius above the norm.
Northwest India recorded a mean temperature of 31.73 degrees Celsius in June, 1.65 degrees Celsius above normal and the highest since 1901.
Northeast India recorded a 33% rainfall deficit in June, which Mohapatra attributed to the sluggish advance of monsoon over the northern and eastern parts of the country due to a lack of weather systems.
"Only one low-pressure area developed towards the end of June. Normally, we get three low-pressure systems. The Madden-Julian Oscillation was not favourable and therefore, we could not get enhanced convection and low-pressure systems," he said.
The absence of active western disturbances, mainly during the June 10 to June 19 period, was also a reason for the longer dry spell and heatwave prevailing over northwest and central India.
Mohapatra said only three western disturbances, against a normal of four to five, were observed across north India (June 5-10, June 19-25 and June 26-28).
India faced over 40,000 suspected heatstroke incidents and more than 100 deaths due to one of its longest and most severe heatwaves. The extreme heat put a strain on the water supply and power infrastructure, causing a major water crisis in Delhi.
According to the IMD, around 40% of the country recorded double the number of heatwave days than usual during the April-to-June period. Temperatures breached 50 degrees Celsius in parts of Rajasthan, with night-time temperatures hovering around 35 degrees Celsius at many places.
In Delhi, which logged 40 consecutive days of temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius since May 13, there have been around 60 heat-related deaths this year, according to media reports.
The IMD had earlier predicted 10 to 20 heatwave days during the summer season against the normal of four to eight days.
In contrast, 20 to 38 heatwave days were recorded in different parts of east, north and central India, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Gujarat.
(With inputs from PTI)
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