Third warmest March in 121 years recorded over India
March was third warmest in 121 years in terms of monthly average maximum temperature, the India Meteorological Department on Monday said.
The IMD, in its review for the month, said the observed monthly average maximum, minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during March this year are 32.65 degrees Celsius, 19.95 degrees Celsius and 26.30 degrees Celsius, respectively, against the normal 31.24 degrees Celsius, 18.87 degrees Celsius and 25.06 degrees Celsius based on the climatology period 1981-2010.
The minimum and mean temperatures recorded over India last month were also above normal, the IMD mentioned in its report. On March 29, Delhi reeled under a “severe heatwave” on the day of Holi, as the maximum temperature shot up to 40.1 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day in March in 76 years.
What is worrying is the below normal rainfall reported in March, with the country clocking a deficiency of 45.2 per cent. Generally, convective activities begin in March and sporadic thunderstorms are reported from most parts of the country. Barring Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Assam, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, rainfall activity over the remaining regions remained below normal last month.
