February this year was warmest since record keeping commenced in 1901: IMD

NEW DELHI: This year's February was the warmest February in India since record keeping commenced in the country in 1901 and the upcoming hot weather season during March-May in most parts of the country is likely to be warmer with reporting of more number of heatwave days during the period, the IMD said on Friday.
It was the second consecutive month of the year that figured among the top three in record terms as Jan 2025 was the third warmest Jan since 1901.
Back-to-back warmer months and the prediction of above-normal temperature in March may negatively impact winter-sown crops such as wheat and rapeseed during their maturing phase. Forecast of more heatwave days may threaten the output in certain states where sowing was delayed.
“Above-normal heatwave days are expected over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and northern parts of Karnataka during March to May,” said D S Pai, a senior scientist at IMD, while releasing the temperature/ rainfall outlook for hot weather season.

India during Feb recorded 22.04 degree Celsius of mean temperature which was 1.34 degree C above normal. The month recorded the warmest minimum (night) temperature and the second warmest maximum (day) temperature since 1901.
Among four homogeneous regions, Feb 2025 was the warmest Feb in central India as well whereas it was third warmest Feb in south peninsular India, fifth warmest in northwest and ninth warmest in east & northeast India. Mean temperature in central India was 24.6 degree C whereas it was 26.75 degree C in peninsular India, 20.14 degree C in east & northeast India and 17.11 degree C during the month in northwest India.
March is going to be warmer too with most parts of the country expecting above-normal temperatures both during the day and night. “Monthly maximum (day) temperatures for March are likely to be above normal over most parts of India, except over some southernmost parts of peninsular India, where below normal maximum temperatures are likely,” said Pai.
During March, above-normal heatwave days are likely over most parts of central India and adjoining northern parts of south peninsula and some areas of northwest and east India.
Heatwaves pose significant risks to vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, leading to heatstroke, dehydration, and strain on infrastructure.