March may stay mild in parts of Maharashtra, hotter days likely later in summer, says IMD

Pune: Parts of Maharashtra, particularly Madhya Maharashtra, might experience relatively milder daytime conditions this March, even as the broader March-May hot weather season was likely to be warmer than usual, India Meteorological Department's latest seasonal outlook stated on Saturday.IMD's March 2026 temperature forecast indicated that maximum temperatures were likely to remain normal to slightly below normal across several regions of the country. For Maharashtra, especially Madhya Maharashtra and neighbouring interior districts, the probability favours normal or marginally below-normal daytime temperatures. Still, some pockets in central and peninsular India might record above-normal maximum temperatures.
In contrast, minimum temperatures were projected to stay above normal across most of India, meaning that while daytime heat might remain subdued in Maharashtra, nights were expected to be warmer than average. An IMD official told TOI, "Maximum temperatures could be on the lower side in March due to the possibility of rain or thundershowers during the month in parts of the state. Hence, minimum temperatures could be higher due to clouding associated with these thundershowers. We don't expect a very hot March for parts of the state." Cloud cover plays a key role in this pattern. On clear nights, the earth's surface loses heat rapidly through radiation, leading to a sharp drop in minimum temperature. However, when night skies remain partly cloudy, the clouds act like a blanket, trapping outgoing heat and slowing down cooling, keeping night temperatures above normal. The March rainfall outlook also points to normal to above-normal precipitation across many parts of the country, with Maharashtra largely falling in this category. This increases the likelihood of scattered pre-monsoon thundershowers over the state's interior regions during the month. The broader seasonal outlook for the March-May period, however, paints a warmer picture. Regarding heatwaves, IMD anticipated above-normal heatwave days over parts of northwest and west-central India during the Marcc-May period. Heat-prone regions of Maharashtra, such as Vidarbha and Marathwada, might face an increased risk of heatwave spells in April and May.In March, above-normal heatwave days were projected mainly for isolated areas in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Most other regions, including Maharashtra, were expected to experience near-normal heatwave activity, although short, isolated hot spells — particularly in Vidarbha — could not be ruled out.