India heatwave
© Sipa via AP ImagesA man drinks water to cool off during a hot day as temperatures soared above 110 degrees on April 10, 2016 in Allahabad, India.
Dozens of deaths have been reported in India as temperatures soared to 115 degrees (46°C) in recent days.

The intense heat has come earlier and is more widespread than normal, according to BBC.com. Triple-digit temperatures have been reported all over the country's southern states as west winds prevail in areas like Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, preventing sea breezes from relieving coastal cities from stifling heat along the Bay of Bengal, the report added.

The heat wave was responsible for at least 111 deaths through Saturday in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Xinhua reported. A year ago, a heat wave killed some 2,300 people in those two states, Time.com said.

On Monday, the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar reported a high temperature of 114.5 degrees, clinching its hottest April day on record, BBC.com also reported. Many other cities in eastern India have been above 100 degrees for many consecutive days, the report added.

These temperatures are well above early-April averages for India, according to Xinhua, and local officials said they've made drinking water booths available in addition to other measures intended to keep residents safe from the heat. The nation's monsoon season generally lasts from June through September, according to NOAA, and there's usually a period of dry, hot weather before it begins. This year, the dry heat started earlier than expected, and when paired with parched ground dried out by a disappointing 2015 monsoon season, the warmth is even more intense, BBC.com added.

There's little relief coming in the next week. According to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce, much of India will continue to see high temperatures above 100 degrees in the coming days.