After the cessation of winter season in February, rains have literally pulled away from most northern plains in general and Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in particular. Wintery systems keep attacking north India in the first half of March and sometimes even beyond. However, this pre monsoon season, the opening month of March has been a wash out. Most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi remained parched. February rains also were insufficient for the region and the scarcity got compounded with rather poor show of March.
Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are rain deficit in March, so far, by 98%, 99% and 100% respectively. It is nearly unprecedented. Rains were deficit in 2021 also but the margin was 50-60%. There have been instances of deluge over these areas, like in 2016 and 2020, when large excess of 300-400% was recorded in March.
In the absence of rains and clouds, summers have caught up early. Mercury levels are soaring high giving a feel of April in March itself. Delhi witnessed a high of 38.3 degree on 20th March, 8 degree above the normal. Mostly all cities of Punjab and Haryana have clocked day temperature, in excess of 35 degree, from mid March onward.
Irony is that there is no hope of any relief from the heat and also no likelihood of any rain in the remaining days of March. Dry spell is expected to extend to the 1st week of April as well. March possibly will end as an all time low of recent past.