The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday stated that most parts of India are likely to experience above-normal temperatures in May. However, thunderstorms at regular intervals may prevent the heat from reaching the extreme levels seen last year.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, during a digital press conference, said that the number of heatwave days in most parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal is expected to be one to four days more than normal.

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He said that frequent and intense storms are expected in May, which may prevent temperatures from reaching the levels recorded during the same period last year. 

Parts of Gujarat, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and northern Karnataka are also likely to witness more hot days than usual, as per the weather department. Normally, most parts of the country, except for the southwestern peninsular India, experience one to three heatwave days in May.

Mohapatra said that except for some areas in northwest, central, and northeast India, most regions of the country are likely to receive above-normal rainfall. Northern India is expected to receive above-normal rainfall, amounting to 109 per cent of the long-period average of 64.1 mm.

In April, the country recorded 72 heatwave days. Rajasthan and Gujarat experienced above-normal heatwave days (6 to 11 days), and eastern Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha recorded 4 to 6 days, compared to the usual 2 to 3 days.

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In parts of east-central India, Maharashtra and surrounding areas of northern peninsular India, one to three heatwave days were recorded, which is slightly below the usual two to three days.