According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Annual Climate Summary, 2024 marked India’s hottest year, with severe weather events causing the deaths of over 3,200 people, presenting unprecedented challenges for the country. Lightning and thunderstorms, responsible for 1,374 deaths, were the most common cause, followed by floods and heavy rains, with 1,287 deaths, and heatwaves claiming 459 lives.
Kerala had the most fatalities from floods and torrential rains, while Bihar saw the most deaths from lightning. Extreme weather-related deaths were also recorded in other states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
Temperature and Rainfall Anomalies
With the national average annual temperature climbing +0.65°C above the long-term normal, 2024 was India’s warmest year on record, according to the IMD data. States with temperature anomalies over 1°C included Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Kerala.
All four seasons had temperatures above average, with the post-monsoon season (October–December) seeing the highest rise of 0.83°C since 1901. Churu in Rajasthan reported 50.5°C, followed by Ganganagar at 49.4°C and Varanasi at 47.8°C, breaking several cities’ previous temperature records.
Extremes in rainfall were also noteworthy; on July 19, Porbandar, Gujarat, had a record-breaking 485.8 mm of rain in a single day. Extreme rainfall was also recorded in Dwarka and Puducherry on the same day, with totals of 418.6 mm and 483.7 mm, respectively.
Also Read: BUR-4 Reports 7.93% Drop In India’s GHG Emissions In 2020, Showcasing Commitment To Climate Action
Warming Trends and Climate Action
According to IMD statistics, there was a notable warming trend from 1901 to 2024, with average annual temperatures increasing by 0.68°C every century. As heatwaves became more intense, daytime temperatures increased more quickly (+0.89°C per century) than nighttime temperatures (+0.46°C per century).
2024 marked India’s hottest year, and the findings made public on IMD’s 150th foundation day emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Unless prompt action is taken, the human and economic toll is anticipated to increase as rising temperatures contribute to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
As a sobering warning of the repercussions of inactivity, 2024 highlighted the pressing difficulties India faces in reducing the effects of climate change while protecting its most vulnerable citizens.
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