Nagpur, India: The city is witnessing an unexpected rise in temperatures this February, with the mercury soaring 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature reached 35.6°C—6 degrees higher than the usual average—indicating an early onset of summer-like conditions.

Typically, February starts with mild cold in the first half and sees a gradual rise in temperature later. However, this year, the heat has arrived much earlier. The minimum temperature is also reported to be 3 to 4 degrees above normal, making nights warmer than usual.

According to the Meteorological Department, Nagpur City has recorded temperatures between 37°C and 38°C five times in the last decade during February. The lowest maximum temperature in recent years was 33.5°C on February 20, 2020. While February 8, 2014, saw an exceptionally high temperature, the hottest days have generally been recorded between February 21 and February 26.

With this unusual heatwave, weather experts predict that temperature records may be broken this year, making February hotter than ever before.