MUMBAI, May 1 (Reuters) – Many Indian states are likely to witness an above-average number of heatwave days in May, the weather office said on Friday, as India continues to experience higher-than-average temperatures that are pushing energy demand to a record high.
As the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, India’s energy supplies are already under pressure since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Heatwave days are likely to be more frequent than normal across the eastern coast, parts of the Himalayan foothills, and the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
India is likely to receive above-average rainfall in May, at more than 110% of the long-period average, though many parts of the southern peninsula, as well as some areas in the northeast and northwest, are expected to record above-average maximum temperatures, he said.
India received below-average rainfall in April, while maximum and minimum temperatures remained above average, pushing peak power demand to a record 256.1 gigawatts.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Kevin Liffey)
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