2024 likely to be India's hottest year on record: Report
India is currently grappling with intense heat, prompting the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a "red alert" for West Bengal and Odisha in May. An "orange alert" has also been declared for other regions including West Bengal, Bihar, and interior Karnataka. The IMD forecasts that eastern and southern India will face "heat wave to severe heat wave" conditions over the next five days.
2023 declared 'hottest year on record'
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed last month that 2023 was the "hottest year on record," with global average near-surface temperatures reaching 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The WMO stated, "The global mean near-surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45±0.12 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 average." Both IMD and WMO predict that the upcoming year, 2024, will break new records as the warmest year yet.
Record-breaking temperatures reported across India
On the final day of April, Kalaikunda in West Bengal recorded a staggering 47.2°C, marking the highest April temperature ever documented in India. According to IMD, this temperature was an alarming 10.4 degrees above the seasonal average, indicating extreme heatwave conditions over the Gangetic West Bengal region. Even popular hill stations like Ooty in Tamil Nadu and Matheran in Maharashtra have reported record-breaking temperatures for April.
