India is preparing for one of the hottest March months on record, with above-average temperatures expected to last throughout most of the month, according to two officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This unusual heat presents a significant threat to the maturing wheat crop, potentially impacting yields, the officials said.
“March is likely to be unusually hot this year, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures expected to remain above normal for much of the month,” a senior IMD official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity, ahead of the department’s official forecast, which is due for release on Friday.
Daytime temperatures are predicted to rise starting from the second week of March, with several states expected to see maximum temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) by the end of the month, the official added.
The second IMD official mentioned that wheat-growing regions in northern and central India are likely to experience a significant rise in temperatures — potentially up to 6 degrees Celsius above normal — beginning in mid-March.
“March’s weather won’t be favorable for wheat, chickpea, and rapeseed crops, which could suffer from heat stress,” the official warned.
