2018 sixth-warmest year in India, says IMD

The average temperature in India was “significantly above normal” in 2018, since it commenced keeping nation-wide records of weather events in 1901, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday whereas noting that the country had lost over 1,400 lives in extreme weather events last year.

The national meteorologist said annual mean surface air temperature (averaged over the country) throughout the year was 0.41-degree Centigrade above (1981-2010) average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its Statement on Climate of India in 2018, released yesterday (Jan. 16). This makes 2018 the 6th warmest year India has witnessed since 1901.

“All the six warmest years on record in India were within the last 15 years. It clearly shows that ‘global warming’ is occurring and that we got to prepare ourselves to face its consequences,” said Secretary of the ministry of earth sciences M Rajeevan.

It was, however, less than the global mean temperature for the January-October period when the world recorded 0.98 degrees C (12 degrees C) above the pre-industrial baseline (1850-1900), making 2018 the fourth warmest year globally on record.

To combat rising temperatures, India has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy and switch to electric vehicles. However, a 2017 study showed that just a half-degree temperature increase could lead on to a considerably higher death toll, suggesting that India is running out of time to reverse its course.