Will First Significant Heat Wave Impact India's Beneficial Monsoon Rain?

By Mark Paquette

April 27,2014; 9:55PM,EDT

 

 

The first major heat wave is likely to continue this week across eastern Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh as an area of high pressure causes plenty of sunshine and a dry northwest wind.
New Delhi, India, is a location that is going to endure extreme heat. High temperatures will climb to near 41 C (105 F) Monday through Wednesday, and Thursday the temperature may soar to 43 C (110 F). High temperatures Friday through Sunday climbed over 38 C (100 F) already, and this is just the beginning of the heat.
 Visitors to the city of Delhi sleep under the cool shade of a tree rather than venture out sightseeing in an oppressively hot afternoon, New Delhi, India, courtesy of AP Photo/Saurabh Das
This heat is a bit early but not unheard of for this time of year. India's hottest weather often occurs before the onset frequent rains, often called the monsoon.
The monsoon may be different this year because of the expected upcoming El Niño.
If the monsoon rain is delayed, it would be a disaster for agriculture, according to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Eric Wanenchak.
However, there are mixed signals as to how much the monsoon may be limited.
"The monsoon may start on time or even slightly early, but the rainfall during the monsoon season may less than normal and more sporadic, especially in the north," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls. "The drought they had in the summer of 2009 the monsoon started on time and ended late, but rainfall during the season was hindered by the onset of El Niño that summer which again may be the case this summer."