India to see more heatwave days, warmer summer this year, forecasts weather panel

India is likely to experience a warmer summer this year with El Nino conditions predicted to continue at least until May, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday.

More heatwave days than normal are predicted over northeast peninsular India -- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and north interior Karnataka -- and many parts of Maharashtra and Odisha, it said.

The country is likely to record above-normal rainfall in March (more than 117 per cent of the long-period average of 29.9 mm).