Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
Warmer than normal temp in west, north India
NEW DELHI: The Rhododendron, Uttarakhand’s state tree, bloomed in the first week of February in most parts of north-western Himalayas, at least a month before it usually does. Plum and green-almond trees are in full bloom in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, again, a month before they do. And winter national games in ski resort of Auli in Uttarakhand were cancelled on Friday due to inadequate snow.
These are just a few examples of the implications of warmer than usual weather in north and western India, where temperatures have touched almost 40°C. Experts say a warmer February is a clear indication of global warming. “We saw one of the coldest Januarys in recent years and now February is so warm,” said K G Ramesh, former director of India Meteorological Department.
On Thursday, Bhuj in Gujarat recorded 40.3°C, breaking its previous all-time record (for the month) of 39°C on February 19, 2017. It is also the earliest a temperature in excess of 40°C has been recorded in the month in India. The reading was 10°C about normal, which as per the definition of IMD, indicates a heat wave.
IMD declares a heat wave when maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for plains and at least 30°C or more for hilly regions and there is departure from normal between 4.5 and 6.4°C. Extreme heat wave is a departure of more than 6.4°C.
Similar high temperatures were recorded in several parts of western India with Barmer in Rajasthighest han recording 38°C on Friday, about five degrees more than normal for this time of the year. Gujarat cities such as Rajkot, Deesa and Sundernagar also recorded above 38°C temperatures. Thane and Panvel in Maharashtra recorded the highest maximum temperatures (39 °C) in the state. Mumbai recorded the season’s
at 38.6°C.
In Uttarakhand, where tourism minister Satpal Maharaj announced cancellation of the national junior skiing competition and winter games because of inadequate snow, IMD said maximum temperatures were “appreciably above normal in plains” and markedly “above normal in hills.”
JC Kuniyal, a scientist at GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development in Almora, said, “Early blooming of rhododendron and other trees is indicative of warmer hills this time and is primarily happening due to climate change, especially due to the average increase in the mean temperature annually”.
Eastern India seems to have escaped the heat – at least thus far. Valmikinagar in Bihar’s West Champaran district was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 29.1°C on Friday.The average maximum temperature stood at 23°C to 25°C and there is no significant deviation from the normal temperature, said officials of Patna Meteorological Centre. The highest temperature in West Bengal ranged between 27 and 30°C, said an IMD official.
IMD said that temperatures are higher than normal in some parts of the southern India also.
Navdeep Dahiya, an independent climate researcher, said warmer temperatures have been recorded across India, especially western and northern parts. According to him, most climate models don’t predict any “significant” relief till the end of February.