The year 2023 was the second warmest on record in India since 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over India during 2023 was 0.65 degree Celsius above the long-term average, making it the second warmest year. The highest warming was observed in 2016 with an anomaly of 0.71 degree Celsius. Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reporting the global mean temperature to be around 1.40 (± 0.12) degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level. The IMD also warned that the warming El Nino event in 2023 is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024.
Extreme weather events in India led to 2,376 human casualties in 2023. Thunderstorms and lightning were the biggest killers, contributing to over 50% of the total deaths. This was followed by floods and heavy rains, and heat waves. The number of casualties in 2023 increased compared to 2022 when 2,227 people were killed in extreme weather-related events. The IMD cautioned that the figures on human casualties are indicative at this stage, and final data could be derived from other agencies’ records later.
Preliminary data shows that Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of casualties, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
For more information, read the full article on Times of India.
