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In the month of Saavan-Bhadon, when the weather is expected to be pleasant with clouds raining from the sky and cold showers, in the same month of August, the whole of India had to face scorching heat and heavy humidity. The historical data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has left both environmental scientists and common citizens perplexed. This August has been the warmest month in the country since official weather records began in 1901, i.e. in the last 125 years. The rise in temperature to this level during the peak monsoon season is a serious warning of climate change and drastic changes in the seasonal cycle.
According to the official data of IMD, the mean monthly temperature of the entire country in the month of August was recorded at 28.01 degrees Celsius, which was about 0.67 degrees Celsius higher than the normal average from 1991 to 2020. Temperature records at the national level in India are being recorded since the year 1901. Earlier, hot Augusts were also observed in the year 2023 and subsequent years, but this time the data has left behind the history of 125 years. The scorching heat during the day was already troubling, but the most shocking change was seen in the mercury at night, which has alerted even meteorologists.
Meteorologists say that not only the scorching afternoon sun is responsible for a month being unusually hot, but the lack of drop in temperature at night proves to be the most fatal. In this month of August, India’s average minimum temperature (night-time temperature) was recorded at 24.36 degrees Celsius, which is 0.68 degrees Celsius more than normal. Such a high average minimum night temperature has never been recorded in any August since 1901. Usually the nights become cool after the rain, but this time there was no respite from the humidity and heat even at night. In eastern and northeastern India, night temperatures reached the highest level in history, taking the average temperature for the entire month to a record level.
Dense clouds and frequent rains help keep the temperature under control during the monsoon season. When the ground is wet, the effect of solar radiation is reduced and natural cooling is maintained due to evaporation. However, there was uneven distribution of monsoon trough this August and there was a long break in monsoon in many parts of the country. According to the Meteorological Department, about 16.3% less rainfall than normal was recorded across the country in the entire month. What rain did occur was in the form of cloud bursts or heavy spells over a few selected areas (such as northwest and east-central India). The rest of the country remained in the grip of drought and intense sunlight for several weeks, due to which the dry land rapidly absorbed the sun’s heat and the atmosphere remained as hot as a furnace.
The globally active ‘El Niño’ weather phenomenon is being considered to be the biggest factor behind this historic heat. Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern parts of the equatorial Pacific Ocean were recorded much warmer than normal. When the Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm, it disrupts atmospheric circulation around the world. Historically, El Nino has a negative impact on the Indian monsoon, causing weakening of monsoon winds and significant reduction in rainfall. This global weather pattern did not allow monsoon clouds to become active by creating a high pressure area over the Indian subcontinent.
Meteorologists and climate scientists believe that this record-breaking temperature of the month of August is not just a seasonal coincidence, but it is a direct result of uncontrolled global warming. Due to the spread of concrete forests and loss of greenery, the effect of ‘Urban Heat Island’ is increasing in cities, due to which concrete buildings and roads release the heat of the day at night and the nights do not become cool. This extreme heat and irregularity of rains is directly impacting Kharif crops, especially paddy, pulses and oilseeds. Along with this, due to decline in ground water level and shortage of water in reservoirs, the possibility of worsening drinking water and irrigation crisis in the future has also increased.
The Meteorological Department has warned that there may be a possibility of higher than normal temperatures and uneven distribution of rainfall in some parts of the country even in the month of September. Scientists say that India will now have to be prepared for this ‘New Normal’, where even during the rainy season, one may have to face heat waves and extreme heat. Environmental experts have appealed to governments and society to implement measures to reduce carbon emissions, increase green cover in cities and conserve water on a war footing, so that lives and economies can be saved from such extreme weather crises in future.