Amid a rising trend in temperature in the second half of this month in the key Rabi crop-growing states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, some rains in the last few days in many places have lessened the risk of yield drop. However, the prediction of hailstorms and more rains with high-speed wind can still pose a challenge for the standing crop, even if that occurs in a very limited area.
“Gradual rise in minimum temperature by 2-4 Degrees Celsius likely over northwest region during next 4 days while no significant change in minimum temperature is expected over Central India during next 3 days, India Meteorological Department said in a statement. However, it has predicted rise in minimum temperature by 2-4 Degree C thereafter in Central India. No significant change in minimum temperature is seen over the rest parts of India during the next 4-5 days, it added.
On the maximum temperature forecast, IMD said there is a possibility of a gradual rise by 2-4 Degrees C over the plains of northwest India during the next 4 days, but Central India may see a rise by 2-4 Degrees C after 3 days. For Gujarat, the weather bureau has predicted a 2-3 Degree C rise after 2 days. However, there will be no significant change in maximum temperatures over the rest of India until February 29.
Due to a fresh Western Disturbance, IMD has predicted isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall over Punjab, Haryana, from February 26 to March 1, over west Uttar Pradesh from February 27 to March 1, over west Rajasthan from February 27 to 28, and over east Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan from February 28 to March 1.
During the past 24 hours, maximum temperatures have risen over most parts of the country. As a result, most states had above-normal temperatures, it said. Maximum temperatures were “markedly above normal” (5 Degrees C or more) over Konkan, Goa, Chhattisgarh and “appreciably above normal” (3-5 Degrees C) over Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Vidarbha. The maximum temperature was “above normal” (1-3 Degrees C) over coastal Karnataka, northeastern states, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada region, West Bengal, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Last February, the country had below-normal maximum temperatures over most parts of the northwest and northeast regions. The above-normal maximum temperature was observed only over the south peninsular region. The weather bureau could not get its prediction of high temperatures correct due to frequent Western Disturbances passing over north and adjoining central India, officials said.
“The Central India meteorological subdivision comprising Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha had highest minimum temperature of 16.62 Degree C in February, 2024, which is highest since 1901. The normal (last 50 years average) for the Central region in February is 14.99 Degree C,” an agriculture scientist said, pointing out the risk in high minimum temperature. The government had to relax specifications of wheat under fair average quality due to shrivelled grain for Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan last year, he added.
