As January turned into February, India is experiencing unusually warm weather, making it feel like spring is coming too early. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that January 2024 was one of the hottest Januarys ever, with an average temperature of 18.9°C. It was also one of the driest, meaning we didn’t get much rain.
Traditionally, March and April are the spring months, but February seems to feel more like them. Experts believe that India’s weather is changing because of climate change. Professor Anjal Prakash, a researcher at the Indian School of Business, said, “It is clear that our beloved spring season is in danger.” He mentioned that these weather changes could hurt agriculture, nature, and our cultural habits linked to seasons. To stop this, we need to work together quickly.
IMD’s forecast for February shows that rainfall will be below normal, especially in northern parts of India. It’s expected to be warmer than usual during the day and night. Mahesh Palawat from Skymet also said, “Spring may come early, or we might not have it at all.” This is because weak Western Disturbances caused less snow and rain in December and January, making it warmer overall. The Himalayan region is facing severe effects, with much less snowfall this year.
According to Mukhtar Ahmed from the Srinagar weather center, “There has been no snow, and the temperatures are 6-8°C higher than normal for three weeks.” Typically, winters last from October to March, but now they seem to only last from December to January.
Climate Central, a European research group, noted that February temperatures are rising quickly, pushing winter into summer. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared 2024 the hottest year ever, with temperatures about 1.55°C higher than in the past. Northern India’s winter is ending too fast, leaving little time for a nice and slow spring.
This winter, many areas in the Himalayas have seen a huge drop in rain. Here are the rainfall numbers:
– Uttarakhand: 86% less than usual
– Jammu & Kashmir: 80% less
– Himachal Pradesh: 73% less
– Sikkim: 82% less
Central India saw a shocking 96% rainfall deficit in January.
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