Heat Waves: According to the India Meteorological Department the temperatures in India are expected to reach exceptionally hot levels from April to June which will primarily affect central, eastern, and northwestern plains regions.
Rising temperatures elevate water scarcity risks while creating extra stress on the power system which expands along with increasing air conditioner usage.
IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that multiple regions will encounter an unusual number of heatwave days throughout this time. The Indian Meteorological Department projects that north and east India alongside central India and the plains of northwest India will endure two to four excessive heatwave days above normal during the April to June period according to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
The maximum temperatures during April will surpass normal conditions throughout most areas of India apart from the regions in western and eastern territories which will maintain regular temperature ranges. The majority of regions will experience elevated minimum temperatures.
The normal heatwave period in India occurs during April to June for a duration of four to seven days.
The northwestern parts of India will endure two times more heatwaves during this season.
The India Meteorological Department previously predicted northwest India will encounter approximately two times more heatwaves than typical during this summer season compared to its usual five to six days.
Heatwave conditions will be higher than normal for Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and the northern sections of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Most regions throughout India will encounter abnormally high maximum temperatures during April while the extreme southern regions together with northwest areas will maintain their regular temperatures.
The scientist Mohapatra predicted that most regions will experience elevated minimum temperature levels yet the northwest and northeast sections could face normal or slightly cooler minimum readings.
Rising heat an economic threat?
Experts cite PTI news that India must prepare to face 9-10% increased peak electricity demand during summer because the country will experience more days of heatwaves.
The electricity demand peak in India reached over 250 gigawatts (GW) for the first time in May 2023 on the 30th while exceeding forecast predictions by 6.3 percent. Climate change brings about heat stress which stands among the primary factors influencing the increased demand for electricity.
Recent observations of an exceptionally warm March have raised worries because they could lead to serious harm for the currently harvested wheat crop.
The estimated decrease in wheat production might lead the government to eliminate the 40% wheat import tax as reported by Bloomberg. The Indian government implemented export restrictions in 2022 when March temperatures reached historic levels thus causing production issues that required food price regulations.
The elevated temperature levels will drive up power plant coal utilization to stop electric grid failures in China which holds the status as the world’s densest nation. Uninterrupted power access remains essential for both providing heat relief to the population and enabling hospitals to handle heat illness cases.
The government projected this summer will bring a new all-time high for electricity demand which requires power plant operators to refrain from conducting maintenance routines. The total coal storage capacity at power plants has climbed 16 percent more than last year but operators continue their work to maintain steady distribution coverage.
The analytical data furnished by the government indicates that peak power utilization will exceed 250 GW by reaching 270 GW this year according to Bloomberg.
The extreme heat could boost diesel fuel usage since more people move toward mountain regions while areas without power might install diesel-powered emergency generators.
The central government directed all states to execute evaluations on their hospital readiness against heatstroke and associated health conditions.
Relevant data shows that India experienced 536 heatwave days during the summer of 2023 which became the most since 2009. Between the suspected heat stroke cases tracked by the government numbered 41,789 and 143 people died from heat-related causes but some experts note that underreporting due to lack of data is likely.
The heatwave-initiating period started sooner during this current year. The state of Odisha experienced its first heatwave during April 5 in the year 2024. Heatwave conditions struck Konkan and coastal Karnataka region on February 27-28 during 2025.
Energy consumption directly correlates to temperature increases so experts predict a projected 9-10 percent increase in power usage for this summer season. The maximum electricity demand in India reached 250 gigawatts on May 30 of 2024 which exceeded original forecasts by 6.3 percent.
The India Meteorological Department forecasts normal April precipitation between 88 to 112 percent of its standard yearly average of 39.2 mm. Normal to above-normal rainfall is predicted across northwest, northeast, west-central, and peninsular regions of India.
The IMD reports Kerala and Karnataka’s Western Ghats along with parts of the region are at risk from landslides whereas northeastern states face possible flooding.
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