Searing heat in India today.
Max. recorded temp: 49.8°C
Many central regions of the country with above 40°C temperatures.
May tends to be the hottest month in India.
Source: India Meteorological Department #India#WxIndia
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The monsoon rains normally bring relief to the India subcontinent. Even though the monsoons are forecast for a timely arrival and expected to bring above normal rainfall this year, it will take a few more weeks for it to reach the central parts of India.
See the map below from the IMD for current progress (blue lines) and normal dates (red lines) of monsoon arrival across India.
"The #IndianOcean basin, the fastest warming basin in the world, will see accelerated #warming at a rate of 1.7°C-3.8°C per century during 2020-2100, a new research paper has projected, warning that this will lead to an increase in severe weather events, prolonged marine heatwaves and extreme Indian Ocean Dipole events that will influence the #monsoon and #cyclone development."
" #India last week suspended exports of non-basmati varieties of #rice after heavy #monsoon rainfall damaged newly planted crops due to be harvested in winter. With rice retail prices up 3 per cent in the past month and 11.5 per cent over the past year, the government hopes to quell food #inflation by reserving more grain for the domestic market."