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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat alert for Delhi-NCR and several parts of North and Central India as temperatures are expected to rise 4–6°C above normal.
March Begins with Intense Heat; Delhi May Touch 35°C This Week
New Delhi: After Holi, the weather has taken a sharp turn. Summer has arrived prematurely across North India, including the capital Delhi-NCR. According to the latest forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), temperatures will rise sharply in the first week of March. Maximum temperatures in many areas could reach 34 to 35 degrees Celsius, which would be 4 to 6 degrees above normal.
According to the Meteorological Department, temperatures in the plains of Northwest India may rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next four days. Strong sunshine and hot winds may trouble people in many parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
Temperatures in Central India - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Vidarbha region are expected to be 2 to 4 degrees above normal. The heat wave is expected to persist for the next seven days. Experts say that this year, the beginning of March itself is indicating intense heat.
Temperatures will also rise in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Maharashtra is expected to see a 2 to 3 degree increase over the next four days, while Gujarat is expected to see a similar increase within two days.
Hot and humid conditions will persist in the Konkan coast from March 4 to 5. Meanwhile, coastal areas of Gujarat may experience heat and humidity from March 4 to 6. This could impact normal life.
The skies will remain clear in Delhi-NCR during the first week of March, with no rain expected. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 16 to 17 degrees.
However, due to the impact of a western disturbance, light rain or snowfall may occur in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh between March 4 and 9. Light rain or snowfall is expected in Himachal Pradesh between March 7 and 9, and in Uttarakhand between March 8 and 9.
Weather experts believe that crossing the 35-degree mark in March is a sign of intense heat in the coming months. If this situation persists, temperatures could even exceed 40 degrees. Therefore, people have been advised to exercise caution and take sun protection measures.