&w=3840&q=100)
Over 450 killed in India heatwaves in 2024, says WMO climate report
India, especially northern parts, witnessed temperatures rising to nearly 50°C last summer.
The total death toll due to all other natural calamities, such as floods and lightning, last year was more than 2,000.
Asia's average temperature in 2024 was about 1.04°C above the 1991–2020 average, ranking as the warmest or second warmest year on record, with widespread and prolonged heatwaves. The warming trend between 1991 and 2024 was almost double that during the 1961–1990 period, the WMO's State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report said on Monday.
Asia, the continent with the largest land mass extending to the Arctic, is warming more than twice as fast as the global average because 'the temperature increase over land is larger than the temperature increase over the ocean,' the report said.
The entire oceanic area of Asia has experienced surface ocean warming in recent decades, with particularly rapid rates of sea-surface temperature (SST) increase observed in the northern Arabian Sea and the Pacific Ocean portion of the region. The area-averaged time series indicates average SST warming at a rate of 0.24°C per decade, nearly double the global mean rate of 0.13°C per decade. The area-averaged SST for 2024 was the highest on record (1982–2024).
Variations in SST alter the transfer of energy, momentum and gases between the ocean and the atmosphere. SSTs influence weather and climate patterns, such as extreme rainfall in Indonesia and India, the Asian summer monsoon, wildfire activity and sea-ice variability.
During 2024, four named tropical cyclones formed over the north Indian Ocean. Three out of the four cyclones—Remal, Dana and Fengal—formed over the Bay of Bengal, and one—Asna—formed over the Arabian Sea.
Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall near the Mongla and Khepupara coasts in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, on May 26, 2024. In Bangladesh, the highest recorded wind speed was 111 km/h on May 27, and the storm surge, accompanied by extremely heavy rainfall, caused flooding of up to 2.5 m in the coastal districts. Cyclonic storm Asna developed in August over the Arabian Sea, a rare occurrence—it has happened only three times since 1891. The storm's impact on Oman included rough wave heights ranging from 3 to 5 m.
In 2024, the mean rainfall over most of the Asian summer monsoon region was above normal. North-east Asia and South Asia were particularly impacted by the enhanced intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon and the Indian summer monsoon, respectively.
The onset of the monsoon (June–September) in India was normal in 2024 at 108 per cent of its climatological normal for the 1971–2020 period.
Numerous extreme precipitation events also took place last year, causing landslides, including one in Wayanad, northern Kerala, that killed over 350 people.
In the case of lightning, it claimed around 1,300 lives in various parts of the country. One particularly deadly lightning event killed 72 people on July 10 in northern India, affecting Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Deccan Herald
Typhoon Wipha rains batter Hong Kong, head toward China
Rain pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha skirted southwards, packing winds exceeding 167 kph (103 mph), disrupting 400 flights and public transport, felling hundreds of trees, and damaging a construction site. Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours. Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come. In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. In North Point near the city's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road. As Wipha tracks westward across the South China Sea it is expected to make landfall later on Sunday between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong, state-run broadcaster CCTV said. Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Typhoon Wipha wreaks havoc in Hong Kong, strong winds topples trees and destroys scaffolding
Rains from Typhoon Wipha pounded Hong Kong on Sunday (July 20) as the storm skirted southwards before making landfall on the coast of China's Guangdong province. The storm left Hong Kong with fallen trees and damaged scaffolding and forced over 200 people to seek refuge in temporary shelters. Hong Kong's weather authorities downgraded the typhoon warning to a No. 3 strong wind signal at 7:45 p.m (11:45GMT). Just after 4 p.m. (0800GMT), the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub was lowered to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours. "Compared to previous typhoons like Mangkhut and Hato, which caused much more astonishing destruction, the impact this time was primarily limited to fallen trees and collapsed scaffolding," Eastern District councillor Kenny Yuen told reporters. Show more Show less
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Hong Kong hit by strong winds, heavy rain as Typhoon Wipha heads mainland China
Rain pounded Hong Kong on Sunday (July 20, 2025) as Typhoon Wipha skirted southwards, packing winds exceeding 167 kph, disrupting 400 flights and public transport, felling hundreds of trees, and damaging a construction site. Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday (July 20, 2025), weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110 mm of rain fell within three hours. Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come. In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. In North Point near the city's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road. As Wipha tracks westward across the South China Sea it is expected to make landfall later on Sunday (July 20, 2025) between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong, state-run broadcaster CCTV said. Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday (July 20, 2025). It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking. Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.
