New Delhi: India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted warm and dry weather in February, warning that higher-than-normal temperatures would accelerate crop growth and shorten the rabi crop period, particularly in the northwest and central regions.
IMD flags compressed winter across north and central India, warm February (representative figure)Forecast of fewer and less intense Western Disturbances (WDs) means day and night temperatures are likely to be above normal, the Meteorological Department said, expecting below normal rainfall over most parts of northwest India. Independent experts added that a shortened spring season is likely.
“We have issued specific warnings and advisories for rabi crops this time. At this point we can only speculate that day temperatures may be higher due to lower and less intense western disturbances. Night temperatures are likely to be higher, possibly due to cloudy skies associated with mild western disturbances. Those effects are not expected to reach WDs or eastern states either. A warm February,” said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD.
The forecast for February follows an unusually dry winter, particularly with respect to snowfall over the Western Himalayas. Northwest India experienced its driest winter on record, with a rainfall deficit of 84.8% in December and 84% in the first 10 days of January, with the region’s hills parched at the height of the season, HT reported on January 11. Although the rainfall deficit in January is significantly reduced, north India is 12.5% and more than 12.1%. This year the snowfall period was extremely short, admits Mohapatra.
“Over a period of time, if you look at rainfall activity or snowfall activity in the Western Himalayan region. And there are studies that say it is due to the impact of climate change. There is a declining trend in rainfall and snowfall activity in the winter months in the Western Himalayan region – this is Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan province, he added.”
Monthly rainfall in February is more likely to be below normal (
