The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released the ‘Statement on Climate of India during 2019’. The report presented key observations regarding extreme weather events, changes in rainfall and temperature patterns, unusual cyclone activities, and the cold winter period.
Death Toll from Extreme Weather
2019 was a year of extremes – heat, cold, rain, and cyclones. A total of 1,562 people lost their lives due to these severe weather conditions, a rise from the 1428 deaths reported in the previous year. Among the states affected, Maharashtra recorded the highest death toll (231), followed by Jharkhand (138), Uttar Pradesh (135), Rajasthan (94), and others.
Changes in Rainfall
The year 2019 saw an increase in rainfall during both the Southwest monsoon (June-September) and Northeast monsoon (October-December), amounting to 109% of the Long Period Average (LPA). The LPA is a 50-year average of India’s monsoon rains, currently at 89cm, based on the average rainfall over the years between 1951 and 2000. This exceptional rainfall made 2019 one of the wettest years in recent times.
A Rise in Temperature
The mean temperatures in 2019 remained 0.36 degrees above normal, making it the seventh warmest year ever recorded in India. Furthermore, the period from 2011 – 2019 was the warmest on record for the country with an annual mean temperature remaining 0.36 degree above normal. In the last century, India has warmed by 1-degree Celsius, with a rise in minimum temperature by 0.22 degrees.
An Increase in Cyclonic Activities
2019 was exceptional for the number of cyclones hitting India’s east and west coasts. An average year witnesses fewer cyclonic storms, but this year was reminiscent of the years 1893, 1926, 1930, and 1976 when ten cyclones formed in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal combined.
| Cyclones | Originated In |
|---|---|
| Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha, Pavan | Arabian Sea |
| Pabuk, Fani, Bulbul | Bay of Bengal |
Coldest Winter and the Role of IMD
The winter of 2018-2019 marked one of the coldest seasons in the northern hemisphere. Particularly, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh reported 51 deaths due to snow avalanches. The IMD, responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology, played a significant role in reporting these facts. Established in 1875, it serves as the principal agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024