Hottest April in 122 years for northwest, central India: IMD

The northwestern and central India recorded their hottest April in 122 years with average maximum temperatures touching 35.9 and 37.78 degrees Celsius respectively, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Saturday.

The high temperatures in March and April were due to continuously scanty rainfall activity, said director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD.

The northwest and west central parts of the country - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana - will continue to experience above normal temperatures in May also with warmer nights in most parts of the country, he added.


The average temperatures observed pan-India for April was 35.05 degrees, which was the fourth highest in 122 years, he said.

The average rainfall in May 2022 over the country is most likely to be above normal, the forecast said. Some parts of northwest and northeast India as well as the extreme southeast Peninsula are expected to get below normal rainfall in May.

Most parts of India India, especially the northwest and western parts of the country, have been reeling under severe heatwave conditions for the past few weeks.

The month of March was also recorded as the warmest in nearly 122 years, with average maximum temperatures touching 33.10 degrees Celsius.