IMD’s Weather Report of 2019 might be signaling that India is getting warmer

• IMD’s weather report for 2019 puts this year among the hottest seven in the last 119 years.
  
• Experts interpret this report as an indication of global warming impacting India.
  
• The report also surfaces some facts on the changing climatic conditions in the country.
  

IMD’s weather report says that 2010-2019 was the hottest decade in India. In the last 119 years, 2019 was the seventh hottest year as per statistics. This year, the annual mean temperature was found to be 0.36 degree above the normal values usually recorded as per the data available with the meteorological department of India.

The report published by IMD also notes that from 1901, the year 2019 was the seventh warmest year. Reflecting on the readings of the report, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD head says global warming is impacting India beyond doubt.

Here are a few reflections on the ‘Statement on Climate of India during 2019’ published by India Meteorological Department.

Annual mean temperature is rising over this decade

Eleven out of fifteen warmest years occurred over the last fifteen years. With the noted anomalies of 0.230C /0.360C, the past decade was the warmest on record.

The annual mean temperature and maximum temperatures were rising between 1901 and 2019. The seasonal mean temperatures were also noted to be above the average during all the four seasons. With an anomaly of +0.58OC, the monsoon season between June and September was found to be the warmest since 1901. The mean monthly temperatures over the 9 months of the year except January, March and December were warmer than the normal temperature.

There were more rains in 2019

The annual rainfall measured across the country was recorded at 109% of the long period average (LPA). During southwest monsoon (June – September), the LPA in central India was 129%. During this period, the LPA in south peninsula India was 116%. The northwest and northeast India received 98% and 88% of the LPA rainfall.

In the northeast monsoon season between October and December, the overall rainfall throughout the country was above normal measured as 129% of the LPA. All the five core geographical divisions of India received either normal or more rainfall during the northeast monsoon.

More cyclonic storms in 2019 than usual

In 2019, there were more cyclonic storms in the Indian seas than usual. Eight cyclonic storms formed during this year while the average is at five.

In the Arabian Sea, there were 5 cyclonic storms while most years had only one. And, they were intense too in the Arabian sea. On the other hand, 4 cyclonic storms formed in Bay of Bengal which was the expected average.

Some weather extremities recorded in the year

Some high impact weather events like heavy rainfall, snow fall, thunder storm, dust storm, heat and cold waves, lightning and floods were recorded in 2019. Heavy rains and floods in Bihar took 650 lives. Heavy rain and flood related casualties in the year were more than 850 across the country.

In the northeastern, central, northwestern and peninsular India, there were 380 casualties due to lightning and thunderstorm. Snowfall, avalanche resulted in 33 deaths and 18 casualties in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh regions.