IMD forecasts warm winter, crop yields may feel the heat

Brace for some warmth this winter as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its Decemberfebruary forecast on Thursday said that the minimum and maximum temperatures could remain ‘normal’ to ‘above normal’ over most parts of Northwest and Northeast India.

Both the minimum and maximum will remain below normal in Southern Peninsular and Central India in these winter months.

While this could give some respite from the intense cold of

North India, it could have a negative impact on the standing rabi crops if the temperature rise is unusual and abnormal. Wheat is sensitive to high temperature during reproductive stages, compared to the vegetative stages.

“Both the maximum and minimum temperatures will remain ‘normal’ to ‘above normal’ in Northwest India due to the interaction of large-scale weather phenomena that include the prevailing La Niña conditions,” said IMD Directorgeneral Mrutyunjay Mohapatra at a press conference on Thursday.

He said the ‘above normal’ temperatures will also be due to less cloudiness and belowaverage rainfall, leading to day temperatures staying high. On the impact of slightly warmer winters on standing rabi crops of North India, namely wheat and mustard, Mohapatra said the impact will depend on the stage of the crop.

For December, the IMD said the monthly rainfall over South Peninsular India — comprising five meteorological subdivisions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal; Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema; Kerala; Mahe; and South Interior Karnataka is most likely to be normal.