Planning to move to a metro? Here’s what the climate of some of India’s major cities will be like in 60 years!
Jun 26, 2024, 10:04 IST
Nearly half of Bengaluru’s population constitutes migrants from different parts of Karnataka and beyond. For many, it was the allure of a better life in one of India’s fastest developing cities; for others, it was the employment opportunities. Whatever the reason, this eventually led to a massive boom in Bengaluru’s real estate sector, and things were going well — until they weren’t.
Bengaluru’s population has quickly tripled to 13.6 million since 1990, leaving infrastructure struggling to catch up to the demands of a burgeoning population. As a result, flooding, acute water shortage and rising temperatures have now become a regular sight, leaving many hesitant to find housing in the Silicon City.
However, climate change is hardly an issue restricted to Bengaluru, and is making living conditions increasingly unpredictable all over the country. Fortunately, a new tool called CityApp, developed by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, may offer some insight.
To understand how climate change might reshape the climate of cities in the future, this tool allows users to compare the expected future climate of their hometown with the current climate of another location worldwide. As per the developers, this will answer the pertinent question: what will my city’s climate feel like in 60 years?
Keep reading to find out what kind of climatic shifts you can expect in some of India's most popular cities by 2080, if we continue on the same high-emission trajectory.
As per the app, Bengaluru’s climate will become more akin to Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh by the year 2080. A major pilgrimage centre in the state and renowned for its ancient temples, temperatures in Bhimavaram are generally several degrees higher than Bengaluru’s year-round.
As per Weather Spark, maximum temperatures can climb up to 38°C during the summers in Bhimavaram, 4 notches higher than in Bengaluru during the same time. Minimums hover around 28°C during this time, a massive 5°C higher than the usual in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, temperatures fall to 20°C in winters, still four notches above the mercury in Bengaluru.
As per CityApp, under the high emission scenario, summers in Bengaluru are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 3.1% wetter by 2080. Winters are expected to be 3.8°C warmer and 8.1% wetter.
For Mumbai, the app projects temperatures to become similar to Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, temperatures remain above 34°C in Mumbai throughout the year, surpassing 40°C during the summer months.
As per CityApp, these temperatures are likely to turn 3.4°C warmer and 7.4% wetter under the high emission scenario. Winters are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 5.8% wetter.
For high emissions, summers in New Delhi are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 1.4% drier. Winters are expected to be 4.9°C warmer and 0.9% drier.
With a tropical wet and dry climate and bordering on semi-arid, Hyderabad is another metro that turns especially hot and dry in the summers, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C in the core summer months. During the winters, the mercury averages near 30°C. As per CityApp, the climate of Hyderabad will begin to resemble that of Manuguru, Telangana in the next 60 years.
As per the app’s projections, summers in Hyderabad are expected to climb by 4.5°C and become 47.9% drier. Winters are expected to be 4.3°C warmer and 20.6% wetter.
Considered one of India’s most liveable cities, average daytime temperatures skirt around the 30°C mark in Pune for a large part of the year. During the summer months, temperatures can shoot up to near-40s, as per the IMD data. As per CityApp, Pune’s climate will become similar to that of Murbad in the Thane district of Maharashtra.
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Bengaluru’s population has quickly tripled to 13.6 million since 1990, leaving infrastructure struggling to catch up to the demands of a burgeoning population. As a result, flooding, acute water shortage and rising temperatures have now become a regular sight, leaving many hesitant to find housing in the Silicon City.
However, climate change is hardly an issue restricted to Bengaluru, and is making living conditions increasingly unpredictable all over the country. Fortunately, a new tool called CityApp, developed by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, may offer some insight.
To understand how climate change might reshape the climate of cities in the future, this tool allows users to compare the expected future climate of their hometown with the current climate of another location worldwide. As per the developers, this will answer the pertinent question: what will my city’s climate feel like in 60 years?
Keep reading to find out what kind of climatic shifts you can expect in some of India's most popular cities by 2080, if we continue on the same high-emission trajectory.
Bengaluru — Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh
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As per Weather Spark, maximum temperatures can climb up to 38°C during the summers in Bhimavaram, 4 notches higher than in Bengaluru during the same time. Minimums hover around 28°C during this time, a massive 5°C higher than the usual in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, temperatures fall to 20°C in winters, still four notches above the mercury in Bengaluru.
As per CityApp, under the high emission scenario, summers in Bengaluru are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 3.1% wetter by 2080. Winters are expected to be 3.8°C warmer and 8.1% wetter.
Mumbai — Yangon, Myanmar
For Mumbai, the app projects temperatures to become similar to Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, temperatures remain above 34°C in Mumbai throughout the year, surpassing 40°C during the summer months.
As per CityApp, these temperatures are likely to turn 3.4°C warmer and 7.4% wetter under the high emission scenario. Winters are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 5.8% wetter.
New Delhi — Sindh, Pakistan
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With summers surpassing 50°C, New Delhi is an Indian metro notorious for its heat. However, even these oppressive conditions are expected to climb in the future, with its climate becoming akin to Sindh, Pakistan For high emissions, summers in New Delhi are expected to be 4.5°C warmer and 1.4% drier. Winters are expected to be 4.9°C warmer and 0.9% drier.
Hyderabad — Manuguru, Telangana
With a tropical wet and dry climate and bordering on semi-arid, Hyderabad is another metro that turns especially hot and dry in the summers, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C in the core summer months. During the winters, the mercury averages near 30°C. As per CityApp, the climate of Hyderabad will begin to resemble that of Manuguru, Telangana in the next 60 years.
As per the app’s projections, summers in Hyderabad are expected to climb by 4.5°C and become 47.9% drier. Winters are expected to be 4.3°C warmer and 20.6% wetter.
Pune — Murbad, Maharashtra
Considered one of India’s most liveable cities, average daytime temperatures skirt around the 30°C mark in Pune for a large part of the year. During the summer months, temperatures can shoot up to near-40s, as per the IMD data. As per CityApp, Pune’s climate will become similar to that of Murbad in the Thane district of Maharashtra.
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In case of the high emission scenario, CityApp predicts summers in Pune to become 3.8°C warmer and 5% wetter. Winters are expected to be 4.3°C warmer and a whopping 251.7% wetter.