IMD Reports 2024 as Hottest Year Recorded

January 17, 2025

Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that 2024 was the hottest year in India since records began in 1901. This unprecedented heat wave was part of a global trend, with 2024 being declared the hottest year worldwide. The report brought into light temperature anomalies across different seasons and regions.

Record Temperatures

2024 saw an average land surface air temperature increase of +0.65 degrees Celsius above the long-term average (1991-2020). It surpassed the previous record of +0.54 degrees Celsius set in 2016. Monthly averages were above normal for all months except March.

Seasonal Temperature Anomalies

Winter (January-February) recorded +0.37 degrees Celsius
Pre-monsoon (March-May) recorded +0.56 degrees
Monsoon (June-September) recorded +0.71 degrees
Post-monsoon (October-December) recorded +0.83 degrees Celsius anomalies.
October had the highest anomaly of +1.23 degrees Celsius.

Geographical Heatwaves

Heatwaves affected various regions – April saw heatwaves on the eastern coast, May in north-western India, and June across northern and central India. Some areas recorded temperature anomalies exceeding 4 degrees Celsius.

Monthly Temperature Records

October recorded the highest monthly average temperature anomaly at +1.23 degrees Celsius. November was the third highest since 1901, with an anomaly of +0.84 degrees. July and September also had anomalies of +0.70 and +0.76 degrees, respectively.

Minimum Temperature Trends

July, August, September, and October experienced the highest average minimum temperatures on record, with anomalies of +0.89, +0.59, +0.99, and +1.78 degrees Celsius, respectively. February also recorded a high anomaly of +0.79 degrees Celsius.

Cyclonic Activity

In 2024, four cyclonic storms formed over the northern Indian Ocean, including two severe storms – Remal and Dana. These storms led to extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides.

Extreme Weather Events

The year was marked by various extreme weather phenomena across India, including storms, droughts, and rainfall resulting in floods and landslides in several regions.

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