NEW DELHI, Jan 2: The year 2024 has been declared the warmest on record in India since 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The annual mean temperature reached 25.75°C, surpassing the long-period average by 0.65°C, while the average minimum temperature rose by a significant 0.90°C, settling at 20.24°C. This marks a concerning trend of rising temperatures across the country.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra confirmed that 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2016, which had seen a mean temperature 0.54°C above normal. In addition to the elevated mean temperature, the average maximum temperature in 2024 stood at 31.25°C, which was 0.20°C higher than the norm. Several months saw alarming increases in minimum temperatures, with July, August, September, and October recording the highest-ever average minimum temperatures. February registered the second highest.
Globally, 2024 is expected to be the warmest year on record, with average temperatures 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as reported by the European climate agency Copernicus. A review conducted by climate groups World Weather Attribution and Climate Central revealed that the world experienced 41 additional days of dangerous heat in 2024.
The IMD attributed the rising temperatures to the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra pointed out that rising minimum temperatures are becoming more pronounced in India, particularly during the post-monsoon and winter seasons, contributing to the overall warming trend.
While La Niña conditions are expected to briefly develop in January, their effect on the warming trend is anticipated to be minimal. Experts are warning that global temperatures are entering a phase of sustained increases, with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold likely to be breached consistently. The IMD stressed the urgent need to address the growing impacts of climate change, as India and the world face increasingly severe challenges from rising temperatures and extreme weather events.
