New Delhi: It appears as if summer time has arrived unusually early as Delhi on Monday (February 20, 2023) recorded its third hottest February day since 1969. The most temperature on the nationwide capital’s major climate station Safdarjung observatory soared to 33.6 levels Celsius, 9 notches above regular. The computerized climate station at Pitampura recorded a most temperature of 35.1 levels Celsius, a departure of 10 levels from regular. The Najafgarh and (*54*) stations in the capital recorded most temperatures of 34.6 and 34.2 levels Celsius, which was 9 to 10 notches above regular.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official stated that Delhi recorded an all-time excessive of 34.1 levels Celsius on February 26, 2006, and a most temperature of 33.9 levels on February 17, 1993.
“This is the third highest maximum temperature in Delhi in the 1969-2023 period,” one other IMD official stated.
Lack of sturdy western disturbances major purpose for early warmth in Delhi
Head of the IMD’s regional forecasting heart Kuldeep Srivastava stated that the dearth of sturdy western disturbances was the first purpose for the early warmth in Delhi and different components of northwest India.
“The weather in northwest India is primarily regulated by western disturbances. Since there has been no active western disturbance in the region since January 29, the temperatures have gone up appreciably,” he stated.
A number of feeble western disturbances have led to below-normal precipitation in the hills, he added.
Maximum temperatures are already displaying a rising development and the mercury might soar to 40 levels Celsius and above in one or two meteorological subdivisions of northwest India in the primary half of March, he stated.
Early warmth might adversely have an effect on wheat and different crops
Significantly excessive temperatures over northwest India, Gujarat, Konkan, and Goa might have an opposed impression on wheat and different crops, the IMD stated on Monday.
Maximum temperatures in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Konkan, Goa, and coastal Karnataka have remained in the vary of 35 to 39 levels Celsius — 4 to 9 levels above regular — since February 13.
Maximum temperatures in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh have additionally remained 5 to 9 levels Celsius above regular since February 18.
“This higher day temperature might lead to an adverse effect on wheat as the crop is approaching the reproductive growth period, which is sensitive to temperature,” the IMD stated.
High temperatures in the course of the flowering and maturing intervals result in a loss in yield. There might be the same impression on different standing crops and horticulture, it stated.
The IMD stated farmers can go for gentle irrigation if the crop seems to be beneath stress.
“To reduce the impact of higher temperatures, add mulch material in the space between two rows of vegetable crops to conserve soil moisture and maintain soil temperature,” it added.
(With company inputs)
