Why did heatwaves begin sooner in India this year?

Heatwaves began sooner in India this year, especially along the west coast, with Mumbai already issuing heatwave warnings and seeing temperatures reach 38.7°C. IMD attributes these conditions to an extremely dry winter leading to lack of rain and the persistence of an anticyclone over Madhya Pradesh, India Today reported. This pushed warm easterly winds across west coast, delaying sea breezes.