IMD: Feb expected to be warmer, drier in India

WEAK LA NINA CONDITIONS ARE PREVAILING AND ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST TILL APRIL 2025, IMD SAID

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The night-time or minimum temperatures are expected to be above normal over most parts of the country in February except regions in northwest and south peninsular India where temperatures will likely be normal, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.

Day time or maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to above normal over most parts of the country except some parts west central India and southern peninsular India, where below-normal maximum temperatures are likely, IMD said.

The department further forecast fewer cold wave days over the plains of northwest India. Normally, the month of February records one to three cold wave days over north India and the Gangetic plains.

"Climatologically we expect only 1 to 3 cold wave days in February. Most cold wave days occur in December and January. So, this time there is a very low chance of cold wave in February as per forecast," IMD director general M Mohapatra said.

Monthly rainfall over North India, which consists seven meteorological subdivisions (East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh), is most likely to be below normal (<78% of Long Period Average (LPA)), IMD said.

But, the combination of dry conditions and high temperatures could impact crops adversely.