Amid the polling fervour of the 2024 general elections, eastern and peninsular India faced an unprecedented heatwave throughout April, marking record-breaking temperatures and prolonged exposure to extreme heat. Experts attribute this intense heat to the ongoing climate crisis, which has exacerbated weather patterns across the region.Unprecedented April Heat RecordsApril 2024 witnessed the warmest night temperatures ever recorded in eastern and northeastern India since meteorological records began in 1901. Additionally, it marked the third warmest April in terms of mean temperatures across these regions. Similarly, the peninsula experienced its second warmest April across maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures, as reported by the Meteorological Department.El Nino and Climate ChangeExperts like OP Sreejith, head of climate monitoring and prediction at the weather office, emphasize that factors like El Nino and climate change have significantly contributed to the extreme temperatures observed in certain pockets and states. Sreejith noted the lack of official data on heat-related deaths, citing that such fatalities often occur due to complications like organ failure aggravated by extreme heat.In contrast to the eastern and peninsular regions, northwest India, including the national capital Delhi, experienced relatively milder weather during April. This moderation was attributed to consecutive western disturbances that helped keep temperatures within normal ranges. Overall, the country experienced the ninth warmest April, based on an analysis by the India Meteorological Department.Predicted Weather PatternsFormer secretary at the earth sciences ministry, M Rajeevan, mentioned that the current heatwave episode was anticipated by weather models. He indicated the likelihood of this pattern persisting for the next few days, with similar events expected over central and northwest India in May.Regional Heatwave ImpactOn Tuesday, several stations in Gangetic West Bengal reported severe heatwaves, with temperatures soaring well above normal levels. Instances like Panagarh recording 45.6 degrees Celsius and Baharagora in Jharkhand reaching 47.1 degrees Celsius highlighted the intensity of the heatwave. Moreover, record-breaking temperatures were observed in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and other states, signalling a prolonged period of extreme heat in these regions.Anti-Cyclone InfluenceMahesh Palawat, vice-president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather Services, explained that the abnormal heatwave over West Bengal, Odisha, Rayalaseema, Kerala, south interior Karnataka, and Jharkhand was due to an anti-cyclone presence over the Bay of Bengal. This altered wind patterns, causing inland winds to dominate and contribute to the extreme temperatures experienced across central India.
