India likely to see warmer start to summer season this year: IMD

India to see warmer start to summer this year: IMD

India is likely to experience above normal minimum temperatures in March with El Nino conditions predicted to continue through the season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday, raising concerns about the country's critical wheat crop.

In the first half of March, north-western parts of the country could receive above-normal rainfall, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of IMD, at a press conference.

In the second half of March temperatures are likely to rise above normal, he said.

More heatwave days than normal are predicted over northeast peninsular India -- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and north interior Karnataka -- and many parts of Maharashtra and Odisha.

The country is likely to record above-normal rainfall in March (more than 117 per cent of the long-period average of 29.9 mm).

India is likely to see above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures in most parts of the country in the March to May period Mohapatra said.

Heatwave conditions are not expected over north and central India in March, he said.

Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May.

Mohapatra said that the prevailing El Nino conditions -- the periodic warming of waters in the central Pacific Ocean -- will continue through the summer season and neutral conditions are likely to develop thereafter.

La Nina conditions -- generally associated with good monsoon rainfall in India -- are likely to set in by the second half of the monsoon season.