India is bracing for an intense summer, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting significantly hotter-than-average temperatures from April to June.
- Heatwaves: Central and eastern India, along with the northwestern plains, are expected to experience two to four more heatwave days than the typical four to seven for this period. Some regions in northwest India may even see double their usual heatwave frequency.
- Affected Areas: States including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are predicted to have above-normal heatwave days.
- Temperature Projections: Most of India will see higher-than-usual maximum temperatures in April, with exceptions in the extreme southern and northwestern regions. Minimum temperatures are also expected to be above normal across most of the country, barring some areas in the northwest and northeast.
- Electricity Demand: The anticipated rise in heatwave days is expected to drive a 9-10% increase in peak electricity demand this summer. This follows last year’s record peak demand of over 250 gigawatts (GW) on May 30th, which was 6.3% higher than projected.
- Climate Change Impact: Experts attribute the rising electricity demand to climate change-induced heat stress.
