India records first heatwave of 2026 as spring fades. Maximum temperatures were in the range of 38–42°C. Meteorologists are alarmed of the disappearing spring. “The transition from winter to summer is very quick”

Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed at many places over Saurashtra and Kutch and at a few places over the Gujarat region, while isolated heat wave conditions were reported over Vidarbha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Although isolated heatwave conditions were reported from Vidarbha earlier this month, Wednesday marked the first episode of widespread heat over the western parts of the country.

An anti-cyclone over Rajasthan is driving dry and hot winds towards Gujarat, causing subsidence of air over the region, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and meteorology, at Skymet Weather. He added the pattern has become recurrent. “We have been seeing this happen in the later part of March over some parts of western India.”