IMD’s DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the annual mean land surface air temperature across India in 2024 was 0.65 degrees Celsius above the long-term average (1991-2020 period).

The IMD also forecast an active western disturbance starting today, which is expected to raise temperatures in eastern, central, and northern India over the next 3-5 days.

The year 2024 emerged as the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature soaring 0.90 degrees Celsius above the long-period average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday.

The IMD chief said that the average minimum temperature was the highest on record for July, August, September, and October, and the second highest for February.

The average maximum temperature was 31.25 degrees Celsius, which is 0.20 degrees Celsius above normal, while the average minimum temperature reached 20.24 degrees Celsius, exceeding the norm by 0.90 degrees Celsius.

The year 2024 now ranks as the warmest year on record since 1901, surpassing 2016, which had recorded a mean land surface air temperature 0.54 degrees Celsius above normal.