India Endures Second-Hottest Year on Record in 2023

June 1, 2024

India’s temperatures rose incredibly quickly in 2023, making it the second-hottest year on record since records started 122 years ago. All four seasons, including winter and summer, had unusually high temperatures during this time.

Record-Breaking Temperatures Across the Nation

A huge number of weather stations reported record-high temperatures in 2023. In particular, 102 stations in 26 states and Union Territories broke their records for the hottest temperature in 24 hours. Notably, important towns like Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Kochi were among the more than ten million cities that had to deal with these terrible conditions. The southern states, like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, were hit the hardest. Nine places in each state set new records for temperature.

September Surge and Annual Analysis

34 weather sites recorded record-breaking high temperatures in September 2023, making it stand out as a month with a lot of heat. The “State of India’s Environment In Figures: 2024” study used statistics from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to show that there was also a clear rise in the coldest temperatures. For example, the lowest temperature in December was 1.71°C above the normal average, which was the highest in over 100 years.

Continuing Trend into 2024

The first few months of 2024 were similar. In January, February, and April, the southern peninsular region of India regularly had below-average minimum temperatures. These ongoing outliers suggest that the baseline for climatic normals may be changing, especially when it comes to nighttime temperatures.

Implications of Rising Temperatures

Both the highest and lowest temperatures are continuing to rise. This is a sign of climate change, which could have big effects on the environment and on people. These changes show that the normal weather patterns are being thrown off, which could have an effect on farming, water supplies, and the health of the people in the area as a whole. As nights get warmer, processes in the environment and people who are used to cooler temperatures at night may have to deal with new problems.

About India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Primary Responsibilities and Operations:

Established in 1875 and headquartered in New Delhi.
Operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Principal agency for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology in India.

Significant Contributions and Innovations:

Developed a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean region after the 2004 tsunami.
Introduced the Effective Cyclone Intensity Scale in 2021 to improve cyclone impact predictions.

Global Engagement and Collaboration: