Early heat wave leads to power outages and crop failures in northern India –

In the past fifty years, heat waves have become more frequent in India. Such extreme weather events are consistent with the trend noted by climatologists. The heat already started in March this year, usually a beautiful spring month but now the hottest month in 122 years. The most serious consequence of this is that the wheat crop is in the worst condition in recent years.

With no wheat ready to be harvested until April, farmers had no choice but to watch the blazing sun devour their grain in March. In the northern state of Haryana, many farmers’ yields per hectare were at least half and sometimes as little as a quarter of last year’s yield. This is because India wants to export more wheat this year due to global famines. And that means for tens of thousands of farmers that they will not be able to make a profit this season.

Coal-fired power stations can’t meet demand

Power cuts are also bad for the economy and a burden on Indians, who have to run their fans without cooling. Because coal-fired power plants don’t have enough supply to meet the sudden high demand for electricity — as the rich and middle classes suddenly turn on their air conditioners day and night — there are power cuts in some places for up to eight hours a day.

Coal inventories fell to a nine-year low before the summer, partly as a result of rising prices since the war in Ukraine. Factories are particularly affected as they are the first to experience scheduled periods without electricity. In the state of Punjab, farmers protested the irregular power cuts this week by blocking traffic.

Rain and thunder stay away

One of the reasons for the heat is the lack of regular rain and thunderstorms outside. Scientists at the Indian Meteorological Institute IMD say these are mostly caused by easterly winds from the Mediterranean region. This year was not enough. Another contributing factor is India’s growing population and the accompanying pressures on wildlife: less forest and more cement to trap heat.

Thunderstorms are expected in early May, causing the temperature to drop slightly. But summer is fast approaching and more heat waves are likely to follow.