Chandigarh, April 4: After recording its warmest March since 2022, the region is now bracing for a sharp rise in temperatures through April, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting that day temperatures may hit 40°C as early as next week.
According to the IMD’s long-range forecast (LRF), both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to stay above normal throughout the month. “The warming trend is expected to continue through the summer season till June,” said IMD Chandigarh director Surender Paul. He added that rainfall in April is expected to remain near normal at around 13.4 mm, contingent on the presence of Western Disturbances (WDs), which are currently absent.
March 2025 had already marked a significant shift in weather patterns, with an average maximum of 29.1°C—the highest since 2022, when the monthly average peaked at 30.9°C.
While the region may not experience a heatwave in April, conditions are expected to intensify in May and June. “There is a high probability of heatwaves in the later months,” Paul noted. A heatwave is declared when temperatures exceed 40°C and rise more than 4.5°C above normal.
On Thursday, the maximum temperature climbed to 35.8°C—3.2°C above normal and the highest recorded so far this year. The minimum temperature also saw an uptick, rising from 13.6°C to 15.1°C, although still 3.8°C below normal.
Forecasts for the next three days suggest maximum temperatures will range between 35°C and 38°C, while minimums will hover around 14°C.
