IMD predicts cooler daytime temperature in March after warmer February

A person carrying a can of water, silhouetted against scattered clouds during sunrise in Gurugram, Haryana, on Saturday. | Photo Credit: -

India may have normal to a below normal ‘maximum’ temperature during March over many parts of the country, except North-East India and some other parts, while an above normal ‘minimum’ temperature is likely over most parts of the country, except some parts of north-west and southern regions.

Releasing the monthly forecast during an online press conference, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General M Mohapatra said that maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to below normal over many parts of India, except north-east India, adjoining eastern states and some parts of western Himalayan, central and peninsular regions, where above normal maximum temperatures may be realised.

He said the minimum temperature is likely to be above normal over most parts of the country except some parts of north-west India, south peninsula and along east coast, where normal to below normal minimum temperatures are likely to be observed during March.

The IMD has also predicted an above-normal number of heatwave days over most parts of the country between March-May. This indicates more warmer days could be observed during April-May in particular, after factoring in a comparatively cooler March.

Mohapatra said there is a possibility of normal to above-normal rainfall over many parts of the country (except north-east and some parts of north-west and east-central India), this may have an impact on the day (maximum) temperature not rising much in March.

West Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, south and east Maharashtra, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of north Karnataka and north Tamil Nadu have been predicted to receive above-normal heatwave days.

The IMD’s DG also said that rainfall all over India in February this year was the lowest since 2001, and the third lowest since 1901. “No cold wave was recorded across the country during February,” he said.

Further, IMD said that rainfall over the ‘east and north-east’ meteorological sub-division (at 2.6 mm) was the second lowest since 1901; similarly, the north-west region (at 5.9 mm) was the third lowest since 1901. The rainfall in February in both these regions was the lowest since 2001, it added.

Mohapatra said higher day and night temperatures were observed on many days in the second fortnight of February. “ The day temperature was 5-8ºC above normal, with maximum temperatures in the range of 30-37 degree Celsius over parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and coastal Karnataka during February 13-15 and again during February 25-27.

Published on February 28, 2026