Vidarbha Faces Intense Heatwave as Nautapa Period Begins, Bramhapuri Records 47.2°C The Nautapa period, a traditional marker of peak summer temperatures in Vidarbha, is set to begin on May 25, bringing prolonged scorching conditions across the region. Weather forecasts indicate maximum temperatures will range between 43°C and 45°C during the Nautapa period, which spans from May 25 to June 2. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that temperatures remained significantly above normal, with Bramhapuri emerging as the hottest location in the country at 47.2°C. Other districts recorded high temperatures, including Chandrapur at 45.6°C, Wardha at 45.5°C, Nagpur at 45.4°C, and Amravati and Gadchiroli at 45.2°C each. Gondia reached 45°C, while Bhandara hit 44.8°C. Humidity levels remained low, exacerbating the dry and harsh conditions. Scientifically, the Nautapa period coincides with the "zero shadow period," when the sun remains nearly overhead between latitudes 13° and 23.5°, causing direct solar heating of the land surface. This intensifies ground and air temperatures, creating extreme heatwave conditions. Hot winds from Rajasthan and Gujarat sweep across Vidarbha and central India during this time, further contributing to the heat. Environmentalist Suresh Chopane highlighted that historical records show some of the region’s highest temperatures—up to 48°C and 49°C—occur during Nautapa. He noted that temperatures in evening, late-night, and early-morning hours also remain above normal, reducing the usual cooling relief experienced during night hours. The persistent heat in cities like Nagpur is attributed to the "urban heat island effect," a phenomenon where rapid urbanization traps heat in urban areas.#suresh_chopane #vidarbha #india_metereological_department #nautapa_period #bramhapuri
Unseasonal Hailstorms and Rain Devastate Crops in Rajasthan and Punjab Days Before Harvest A series of unseasonal hailstorms and torrential rains have wreaked havoc on rabi crops across Rajasthan and Punjab, wiping out entire fields in regions like Bikaner’s Arjunsar and Moga districts. Farmers report 100% loss of wheat, mustard, and chickpea in areas where the damage has been most severe, with the timing of the disaster—days before harvest—exacerbating the crisis. The unseasonal weather has left many struggling to recover, as delayed crop insurance payments and the unpredictability of the climate continue to compound their distress. In Bikaner’s Arjunsar region, farmer Bhagirath Karwasra described the devastation as “a thick white blanket” covering his 7.5-hectare field, a stark contrast to the typical April landscape. The hailstorms, which struck between April 2 and 4, brought hailstones as large as lemons, destroying crops that were just days away from being harvested. Karwasra had planted wheat on 4 hectares, mustard on 3 hectares, and the remainder in barley, chickpea, and psyllium. The loss is staggering: wheat and mustard alone cost him Rs 9.6 lakh on 7 hectares, with yields expected to be zero this season. “One hundred per cent gone,” he said, emphasizing the scale of the destruction. The damage is not isolated to Karwasra’s field. Across 20 villages in Bikaner’s Arjunsar region, farmers are reporting similar losses. Unseasonal hailstorms and heavy rainfall have caused widespread destruction of rabi crops, with rainfall levels far exceeding normal thresholds. In the week beginning March 25, Bikaner recorded 480% excess rainfall, while districts like Dausa saw an astronomical 3,060% excess in a single week.#rajasthan #punjab #bikaner #moga #india_metereological_department
