🌡️ Climate & Weather Patterns

🔥 2024 – Hottest Year Ever Recorded in India, Says IMD Report

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 2024 was the hottest year in India since records began in 1901. This national record mirrors the global pattern, with 2024 declared the hottest year worldwide, highlighting the intensifying impact of climate change on seasonal cycles and extreme weather events.

🌍 Record Temperatures – A Historic Heat Spike

• Average land surface air temperature was +0.65°C above the 1991–2020 long-term average
• Surpassed the previous record of +0.54°C in 2016
• All months of 2024 recorded above-normal temperatures—except March

These figures mark unprecedented warming trends affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and public health.

📆 Seasonal Temperature Anomalies – A Year of Rising Heat

• Winter (Jan–Feb): +0.37°C
• Pre-Monsoon (Mar–May): +0.56°C
• Monsoon (Jun–Sep): +0.71°C
• Post-Monsoon (Oct–Dec): +0.83°C
• October alone: +1.23°C — highest monthly anomaly of the year

These seasonal anomalies demonstrate a consistent warming trend across all parts of the calendar year.

📍 Geographical Heatwaves – A Nation Under Pressure

• April: Heatwaves on eastern coastal regions
• May: Extreme heat in north-western India
• June: High-temperature anomalies across northern and central India

Some regions recorded temperature spikes exceeding +4°C, severely impacting human health, crop cycles, and power demand.

📈 Monthly Temperature Extremes

• October: Highest anomaly of the year — +1.23°C
• November: Third hottest since 1901 — +0.84°C
• July: +0.70°C
• September: +0.76°C

The heat trend persisted across monsoon and post-monsoon months, challenging traditional seasonal expectations.

🌡️ Rising Minimum Temperatures – Warmer Nights, Lingering Heat

Record-high minimum temperatures:

• July: +0.89°C
• August: +0.59°C
• September: +0.99°C
• October: +1.78°C
• February: +0.79°C

These unusually warm nights increased heat stress and reduced nighttime cooling, especially in urban areas.

🌀 Cyclonic Activity – 2024’s Storm Signals

• Four cyclonic storms formed in the northern Indian Ocean
• Two severe cyclones:
  • Remal
  • Dana
• Resulted in:
  • Heavy rainfall
  • Floods
  • Landslides
  • Displacement and infrastructure damage

Cyclones added to an already volatile weather year, compounding climate risks.

🌧️ Extreme Weather Events – A Climate Cascade

India experienced:

• Severe droughts in rain-deficient regions
• Flash floods triggered by unseasonal and excessive rainfall
• Storm-related damage across eastern and southern states

These incidents underline the interlinked nature of warming, storms, and rainfall variability.

🕯️ 2024 didn’t just break temperature records—it broke expectations. The need for climate resilience has never been more urgent.