Extreme weather another sign of climate change disrupting patterns, warn experts

Time of India

13-06-2025

Dehradun: India is reeling under an intense and prolonged heatwave sweeping through its northwestern, central, and eastern regions. Experts say climate change is rapidly altering the country's weather patterns, making such extremes more frequent and intense.
Daytime temperatures have soared past 44°C across Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, while Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand are also under severe heat stress.
The
India Meteorological Department
(IMD) has issued red alerts for five consecutive days since June 9, one of the most persistent warnings this season. This surge in heat follows a cooler-than-expected start to summer, driven by sporadic rainfall and thunderstorms, particularly over the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Delhi even recorded its wettest May ever, with 186.4 mm of rainfall, surpassing the 2008 record.
However, the monsoon's advance stalled after reaching Mumbai and parts of the Northeast, and weakened western disturbances allowed hot, dry northwesterly winds from the Thar Desert to engulf the subcontinent.
"The continuous flow of hot winds from Rajasthan—where temperatures neared 48°C—is fueling the heat across eastern and central India," said Mahesh Palawat, VP (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather.
He added that delayed and disrupted monsoon currents, combined with lower moisture content in the air, are worsening heatwave conditions. The added humidity, particularly in the northern and eastern plains, is pushing heat indices to dangerous levels.
KJ Ramesh, former director general of IMD, said that these developments are clearly linked to global warming. "There is no doubt climate change has increased the severity and frequency of heatwaves.
Even a small rise in humidity can add 2–4°C to perceived temperatures, raising health risks," he said. Ramesh also noted that hilly states are now witnessing temperature increases of 2–4°C—once deemed unlikely.
Recent data indicates a troubling pattern: both surface temperatures and humidity are rising, leading to more "thermal discomfort" days, especially in northwest India. The spread and frequency of heatwave days are also shifting.
A study titled 'Shifting of the Zone of Occurrence of Extreme Weather Event—Heat Waves' highlighted that previously safe areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala reported heatwaves during 2011–2020.
The study also observed a southward shift in heatwave zones over the past three decades.
"The rise in heatwaves across places previously untouched is a clear sign of a deepening climate crisis," the study said. States such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh have experienced an increase in extreme heat incidents since the 2000s.
Meteorologists are also noticing altered wind and pressure patterns. A strong high-pressure zone over Western Russia in May reportedly diverted winds over India, allowing dry air from Afghanistan and Pakistan to dominate and delay monsoon activity. "These blocking patterns tweaked the atmosphere, shutting down cloud formation and monsoon progression," said Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, UK.
Weakened pre-monsoon winds over northern India are further compounding the issue by reducing the flow of cooler air, while stronger winds in the south are transporting more moisture, increasing humidity. Experts link this north-south divergence to weakening westerlies and monsoonal disruptions.
The cumulative effect is evident in mortality data. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha reported the highest heat-related fatalities in the 2000s, with Andhra alone recording over 3,000 deaths in the 2010s.
Telangana saw a steep rise in June deaths, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh continue to witness high fatalities from prolonged dry heat.
Cities are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect. "India is witnessing a sharp surge in heat-related hospitalisations, especially from heatstroke. What's worrying is that extreme heat is now extending into monsoon months," said Palak Balyan, Research Lead at Climate Trends.
"Prolonged exposure to heat and humidity is increasing health risks, particularly for outdoor workers, the elderly, children, and the urban poor.
"
Balyan emphasised the urgent need for adaptation strategies: "We need robust heat action plans, climate-resilient infrastructure, and targeted public health responses to deal with this escalating threat."
With traditional summer patterns giving way to prolonged and uncertain extremes, experts say India must act swiftly to confront the realities of a warming climate.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.