North and Central India have witnessed heavy downpours in March this year, to the extent that the month is being regarded as the ‘wettest March’ in the past 100 years. Moreover, there are chances of more showers in the first week of April.
The first two weeks of March witnessed successive spells of rain which led to a significant drop in maximum temperatures.
Multiple weather systems caused widespread rain right from Jammu and Kashmir in North India to Central parts including Rajasthan and Gujarat. In fact, the first three weekends were rainy and cold for most parts of the country. While in Jammu and Kashmir maximums plunged 12-14°C below normal average, they were 5-8°C below average in the plains.
Temperatures in North and Central India
The table below shows the actual average day temperatures recorded this month in several parts of North and Central India.
From the table above, we can see that the actual average maximums recorded in this month are 2-3°C below the normal monthly averages.
Rainfall had receded after the 15th of March and weather remained dry for about 10 days. Consequently, temperatures across North and Central India witnessed a rise but the average temperatures computed this month are still way below the normal monthly average maximums across these areas. Even if the temperatures are a couple of degrees lower, it leaves a significant impact. As more rains are in the offing, even April will commence on a cool note in North and Central India.
