2023 Was Second Warmest Year For India Since 1901: IMD (image: Pixabay)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday that 2023 was the second warmest year on record in the country since 1901. The warmest ever was recorded in 2016, and it was close to 0.70 degree Celsius.

“The annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over India during 2023 was 0.65 degree Celsius above the long term average (1981-2010 period), making it the second warmest year on record since 1901,” said the IMD chief Mrutynjay Mohapatra. On a global level also, the year 2023 is being viewed as the “warmest year on record” locating the global mean temperature around 1.40 (± 0.12) degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level (1850 – 1900 average) until October. Besides, the last year was marked as an El Nino year, which witnessed elevated temperatures and extreme weather conditions.

According to IMD, during the winter season (January-February) and the entire monsoon season (June-September) the minimum temperatures remained unusually high in 2023 and it caused a series of extreme events including floods, thunderstorms and heatwaves. The weather body stated that over 1,270 people lost their lives due to deadly thunderstorms particularly in Bihar, similarly floods, and heat waves cost over 860, and 166 lives respectively. IMD Official, however, added that the data about human casualties is indicative at this point and final data will be updated later.

Since rainfall was at the lowest-ever, February and August recorded as the warmest months in India. The weather department also points that the five warmest years in Indian weather history identified a swift rise in the surface temperature in the country. In descending order, the year were marked as 2016, 2023, 2009, 2017 and 2010.