This February was India's warmest in 125 years of record-keeping

NEW DELHI: The past month was the warmest Feb in India since record keeping commenced in the country in 1901 and the upcoming hot weather season (March-May) is likely to be warmer than normal in most parts of the country with a high number of heatwave days during the period, the IMD said on Friday.
Both months of 2025 so far have figured among top three warmest on record, as Jan was the third warmest since 1901. Earlier, 2024 was declared the warmest year in records dating back to 1901.
Back-to-back warm winter months and the forecast of above-normal heat in March may negatively impact winter crops such as wheat and rapeseed during their maturing phase. Forecast of higher-than-normal heatwave days may threaten the output in certain states where sowing was delayed.
"Above-normal heatwave days are expected over Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, MP, Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and north Karnataka from March to May," said D S Pai, senior IMD scientist, while releasing the outlook for the hot weather season.

Above-normal heatwave days likely in March: IMD
India during February 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, this was the warmest-ever February in central India, the third-warmest in south India, fifth-warmest in northwest and ninth-warmest in east and northeast India. The mean temperature in central India was 24.6 degree C whereas it was 26.75 degree C in south India, 20.14 degree C in east & northeast India and 17.11 degree C during the month in northwest India.
March is likely 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 the senior scientist.
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.