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The hottest July in recorded history occurred recently, surpassing temperature records from thousands of years ago. Moreover, India witnessed various climate records being established and shattered, particularly in the East and Northeast regions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significantly deficient monsoon rainfall in these areas, coupled with July temperatures that reached a level unseen in 122 years for the second time.
Throughout July, both daytime and nighttime temperatures were abnormally high in these regions. They recorded an average temperature of 29.38°C for the month, surpassing the July normal by 1.45°C.
The Meteorological Department stated that 11 states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and West Bengal) experienced the second-highest maximum temperature. It reached 33.23 degrees Celsius this month, exceeding the normal by 1.78 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, if we analyze the average minimum temperature, the recorded temperature was also 25.53 degrees Celsius, surpassing the normal temperature of July. Moreover, it broke the previous record of 25.31 degrees Celsius set in 2022.
These sectors broke records earlier this year in February and June, but the increase in July was more noticeable. Let us inform you that the temperature in these regions during July 2023 was more unusual than before.
For example, the average July temperature was 1.45 °C above normal. Whereas in June it was recorded only 1.37 degree Celsius more than normal. Significantly, this information has come out in the monthly climate review of IMD.
Worsening climate records
The Meteorological Department recorded the average temperature of July this year at 28.4 degree Celsius, which was 0.43 degree Celsius above normal. Considering the data related to the whole of India, they stated that a high temperature has been recorded in July for the seventh time since 1901. The calculation of the normal average temperature was based on the average temperature from 1981 to 2010.
Similarly, the country recorded an above-normal average maximum temperature of 0.29 degrees Celsius and an above-normal average minimum temperature of 0.57 degrees Celsius in July. For your information, the average minimum temperature in July this year reached 24.9 degrees Celsius, which is the second-highest temperature since 1901.
If seen globally, due to rising temperatures and El Nino, the temperature had reached a record level in July. The temperature in July broke all previous records. If we compare the rainfall data from 1971 to 2020, then this year the country has received 13 per cent more rain.
The average rainfall during this period in India is usually 280.5 mm. Similarly, the rains in the northwestern parts of the country were 22 percent above normal. Simultaneously, central India observed 25 percent higher rainfall than usual, mirroring the scenario in peninsular India with a 45 percent surplus in rainfall.
July rains vary across India
Heavy rains, especially in the early part of July, can hold responsible for this. However, in East and Northeast India, the figures reveal a different story. These areas also did not receive enough rain during the month. These areas recorded an average rainfall of 286.9 mm, which is 32 percent below the normal (424.1 mm).
In six of the seven months of January, February, April, May, June, and July 2023, the region did not receive adequate rainfall. Several records have been broken since 1901 due to the region receiving so little rain in January, April, May, and now July.
The IMD predicts that July 2023 will record the fourth lowest rainfall in East and Northeast India since 1901. Experts also believe that the changes in climate have caused significant fluctuations in rainfall, making it difficult to predict in this region.
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