2024 was India’s hottest year since records began in 1901 | India News

NEW DELHI: 2024 was by far the warmest year on record in the country since 1901, the IMD said on Wednesday. It also noted that the last three months of the year (October-December) together were the warmest on record, while October 2024, individually, was the warmest month in 123 years.
With an average annual temperature of 25.75 degrees Celsius, 2024 was 0.65 degrees C above the long-term average (period 1991-2020). The previous warmest year, 2016, had an anomaly of 0.54 degrees C. In terms of annual averages, the difference of 0.11 degrees C between the average temperature of 2016 and 2024 is quite enormous.
The record heat in India was synchronized with the global rise in average annual temperatures as global warming accelerates. The World Meteorological Organization has noted that 2024 was the warmest year on record globally, exceeding for the first time the Paris Agreement threshold of 1.5 degrees C of warming above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900). This follows the record rise of 1.45 degrees C in 2023, the previous warmest year globally on record.
Releasing the outlook for January, the IMD said monthly minimum (night) temperatures are likely to be “above normal” (warmer) in most parts of India, except parts of UP and Rajasthan, some parts of MP and Gujarat and parts of eastern India like Bihar. , where normal or below normal temperatures are likely.

Slightly more rainfall than normal in January, according to IMD forecasts
However, IMD chief M Mohapatra said “above normal cold wave days” are expected in western and northern parts of central India during the month of January.
When asked specifically about the weather situation in Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh (January 13 to February 26), Mohapatra said that although there was a possibility of below normal (colder) minimum (night) temperature during the period, the IMD would provide a more accurate forecast closer to the religious holiday.
The probabilistic forecast map for January, released by the Meteorological department, shows the possibility of colder days and nights (normal to below normal minimum/maximum temperatures) in the Prayagraj region of Uttar Pradesh, during the month.
Otherwise, January monthly (daytime) maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal (warmer) in “most parts of the country, except some parts of northwest, central and adjacent eastern India and the central parts of the Southern Peninsula”, where it is likely to be between normal and below normal.
As far as rainfall is concerned, January is likely to see slightly above normal rainfall for the month, which may be helpful for rabi crops (winter sown) during the period if their distribution is uniform.
IMD said, “Monthly January rainfall is very likely in North India, which consists of seven meteorological subdivisions (East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh). , are higher than normal”.
He said monthly rainfall even across the country in January is very likely to be above normal. “Above normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the country, except in some parts of northwest India and some areas of northeast and central India, where normal to normal rainfall is likely.” below normal,” the Meteorological Department said.