March 2021 turns out to be the 3rd warmest in the last 121 years by recording a mean monthly maximum temperature of 32.65°C. March 2010 remains the hottest so far with an average maximum temperature of 33.09°C and March 2004 stands 2nd with 32.82°C. Also, March 2021 becomes the hottest in the last 11 years.
The month of February itself indicated ensuing hot pre-monsoon wherein the state of Odisha went on the boil and Bhubaneshwar registered a hat trick of 40°C on the last 3 days of the month. March further fueled the fire and few stations like Angul, Bhubaneshwar, Chandbali and Balasore went on to break all-time records. Baripada raised the bar with mercury clocking 44.6°C on 30th March, the highest temperature of the season. Last days of March, even West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu also joined the club of roaring 40’s and more. Chennai established an all-time record of 41.3°C on 30th March pushing the earlier one of 40.6°C way back on 29th March 1953. The national capital of Delhi also cracked blazing 40.1°C on 29th March 2021, the hottest Holi festival on record and also the highest mercury level of March since 1945.
Before this, the month of January and February 2021 also became the 3rd and 2nd warmest respectively on account of mean monthly minimum temperatures. Pre-monsoon season has been predicted to record higher than normal temperatures with frequent and prolonged heatwave spells over different parts of the country. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already joined the fray in April to be amongst the hottest. The next one week may remain mild and spare most parts with searing temperatures in excess of 42-43°C. However, 2nd half of April is expected to chase the earlier heat records and emerge as one of the hottest.
