March in Shimla is usually marked by thunderstorms, hailstorms and chilly winds. But this time the popular resort town recorded the second hottest March in recorded history since 1901, said the weatherman.
“The mercury hovered between 5 degree Celcius and 10 degree Celcius above normal during most of the month. The mean maximum and minimum temperature for the month was 21.5 degree C and 11.3 degree C against normal values of 14.5 degree C and 6.3 degree C,” said Director of the Indian Meteorological Department Manmohan Singh.
“The hottest day this month was 25.8 degree C on March 23. This is only the second highest after March 2004 when the hill station recorded the hottest March day at 27.2C,” said Singh.
“Since 1969 there have been four years when the maximum temperature was 25 degree C or more in March,” he said.
“The prime reason for these high temperatures seems to be greater westerly and southerly bias in the normally prevalent north-westerly to northerly winds,” he said.
Coupled with high temperatures, this March also experienced an unusually dry spell. “The normal rainfall in March is 61 mm.But this year it was only 4.1 mm.Since 1901 this is the fourth driest March . The driest was in March 2004, which recorded zero rainfall.
