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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on April 04, 2025

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Heat wave

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS I - World Geography

Context:

This summer is likely to be extremely warm. In its latest forecast for the coming months, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an “above-normal number of heatwave days” over most parts of the country.

Read about:

What is a heat wave?

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) criteria for Heat Waves?

Key takeaways:

Heatwaves refer to short durations of unusually high temperatures, typically affecting confined geographical areas. In contrast, annual temperature refers to the average readings across a country or region over an entire year. Interestingly, 2024 marked the hottest year on record both globally and in India. However, there isn't a direct link between the total number of heatwave days in a season and the yearly average temperature.

• Although it is difficult to accurately forecast the exact number of heatwave days for an upcoming season, multiple studies confirm a growing trend in both the frequency and severity of heatwaves in India.

• A recent study titled “Heat waves in India: patterns, associations, and sub-seasonal prediction skills” by Raju Mandal and his team at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, examined heatwave occurrences over the past 70 years.

• Published in Climate Dynamics, the research highlights a steady rise in heatwave events since 2000, especially in central, northwestern, and southeastern regions, with an increase of approximately three heatwave days per decade. The southeastern coast — covering areas like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh — witnessed the most significant relative rise.

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) offers reliable heatwave alerts up to a week in advance, providing early warnings to states and districts. Unlike sudden and localized heavy rainfall, heatwaves extend over broad areas, making them easier to predict using weather models.

• These forecasts align with the broader pattern of intensifying summer heat and more frequent heatwave episodes. The consequences affect public health — particularly for marginalized communities — and cause economic disruptions like income loss.

• Despite being a climate-related threat, the adverse effects of heatwaves can be mitigated with proactive measures. Many states and cities have formulated heat action plans to reduce their impact. However, reports suggest that these strategies often fall short in actual implementation.

• According to the IMD, the April-to-June summer period is likely to see a rise in heatwave days across most of northern, central, and eastern India. Only a few areas, including parts of the extreme south, the northeast, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, may be spared from severe heat.

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