MUMBAI, Feb 28 (Reuters) – India is set to experience a hotter-than-normal summer this year, with heatwave days during March and May expected to exceed the seasonal average, the weather office said on Saturday.
In March, the first month of the summer season, minimum temperatures are likely to remain above average across most areas, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In February, both maximum and minimum temperatures were above average, making it the fifth-warmest February since records began in 1901, according to IMD data.
Winter crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and chickpeas are planted from October to December and require cold weather conditions throughout their growth cycle for optimal yields.
Above-average temperatures in March could affect the grain size of maturing winter-sown crops, potentially reducing yields, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trade house.
India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer and biggest importer of edible oils, is counting on bumper 2026 crops to export surplus wheat and cut costly imports of palm, soy and sunflower oils.
“Above-normal heatwave days are expected over most parts of the country during March to May 2026,” said Mohapatra.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav: Editing by Sharon Singleton)
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