More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2026

MUMBAI – Hotter night temperatures are expected in April, with above-normal minimum temperatures most likely over most parts of India, except some pockets of the southern peninsula, the India Meteorological Department said in its outlook for rainfall and temperature for April and the Apr-Jun hot season. Above-normal heatwave days are expected in most parts of the coastal areas in April, the weather department said. Rainfall during the month is likely to be normal to above-normal, it said.

During April, maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to below normal over many parts of the country, the weather bureau said. However, above-normal maximum temperatures are expected over many parts of east and northeast India and some parts of northwest India and southern peninsular India.

Above-normal heatwave days are likely over many parts of the coastal areas of Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, the weather bureau said. "Usually, three to five days of heatwave conditions prevail in April," said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, India Meteorological Department. "This year in April, along the coasts, two-four additional heatwave days are expected," he said.

Rainfall during April is expected to be above normal at more than 112% of the long-period average. Normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of the country except northeast India, while below-normal rainfall is expected over many parts of northeastern India. The long-period average of rainfall over the country during April, based on data from 1971 to 2020, is 39.2 millimetres.

Higher temperatures in April could result in significant heat stress during the reproductive stages of Boro rice, maize, moong, urad, and vegetables such as tomato, leading to poor grain setting, flower drop, and reduced yields in east, northeast, northwest, and southern peninsular India, the weather bureau said.

The rise in temperatures could also accelerate the maturity of late-sown wheat, chana, and masur, resulting in reduced grain-filling duration and low yields in the east, east-central India, and adjoining peninsular regions, the bureau said. "Terminal heat stress in late-sown wheat, mustard, and barley, leading to shrivelled grains and reduced productivity in northwest India," it said. 

During the 2026 hot weather season, which spans from April to June, maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to below-normal over many parts of the country, the weather department said. Above-normal maximum temperatures are expected over most parts of east and northeast India, as well as the eastern parts of central India and adjoining peninsular regions, the department said.

Above-normal minimum temperatures are likely during the season over most parts of the country, except some parts of Maharashtra and Telangana, where normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are expected, the department said.

Above-normal number of heatwave days are likely over some parts of east, central, northwest, and southeast peninsular India during the season. The number of heatwave days is expected to rise in May and June when compared to April, Mohapatra said.

In March, the country recorded 33.7 millimetres of rainfall, which is 12.5% above normal for the period, the weather department said. Most of the rainfall was recorded in the second half of the month, when pre-monsoon activities picked up, Mohapatra said. Rainfall over the country was the tenth highest since 2001, while in east and northeast India, it was the second highest since 2001, the department said.

Eight western disturbances impacted India in March, against the normal of five to six of such weather systems, the department said. The bulk of these western disturbances formed only in the second half of the month, along with the formation of other systems such as troughs and upper air cyclonic circulations. These led to large-scale thunderstorms over many parts of the country, reducing maximum temperatures, the department said. No heatwaves were recorded during the second half of March, it said.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Avishek Dutta

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.