CLIMATE

INDIA
2024
AN ASSESSMENT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
JANUARY - SEPTEMBER

India experienced These weather 35 out of 36

extreme weather events killed Indian states and
events on 93% of 3,238 people Union Territories
the days in the first and affected experienced
nine months of 3.2 million hectares extreme
the year of crop area weather events
 CLIMATE

INDIA
2024
AN ASSESSMENT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
JANUARY - SEPTEMBER
Research direction: Richard Mahapatra
Authors: Kiran Pandey, Rajit Sengupta
Design: Ajit Bajaj, Tarun Sehgal
Research and editorial support: Dakshiani Palicha, Madhumita Paul, Susan Chacko

First published in India in 2022 by the Centre for Science and Environment.
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi 110 062
Phone: 91-11-4061 6000
Fax: 91-11-26085879
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CSE researches into, lobbies for and communicates the urgency of development that
is both sustainable and equitable.
www.cseindia.org

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it continues to adhere to its founder Anil Agarwal’s objective of bringing out news, perspectives and
knowledge to prepare citizens to change the world.

© 2024 Centre for Science and Environment

All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in
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CONTENTS
06 Executive Summary

12 Regional analysis
• Central
• South Peninsula
• Northwest
• East and Northeast

14 Seasonal analysis
• Winter (January-February)
• Pre-monsoon (March-May)
• Monsoon (June-September)

38 Disaster-wise analysis
• Lightning and storms
• Heavy rains, floods and landslides
• Heatwaves
• Coldwaves/cold days
• Snowfall
• Cloudbursts

46 Comparative analysis (2022-24)

52 Warm nights

56 Climate change costs

Scan to access India’s Atlas

on Weather Disasters
INDIA 2024

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

T
he UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines
extreme weather events as occurrences that are “rare at a
particular place and time of year”. While India does not have
an official definition, the India Meteorological Department
(IMD), in its annual “Statement of Climate of India” reports, classifies
lightning and thunderstorms, heavy to very heavy, and extremely
heavy rainfall, landslides and floods, coldwaves, heatwaves, cyclones,
snowfall, dust and sandstorms, squalls, hailstorms and gales as
extreme weather events. The agency defines each of these weather
events on its website “Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of
India”, launched in January 2022, and in other documents (see ‘How
IMD defines extreme weather events’).
The “Climate India 2024: An assessment of extreme weather events”,
prepared by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth
(CSE/DTE), attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and
expanding geography of extreme weather events in India. It has sourced
data on extreme events from two key government sources: IMD and the
Disaster Management Division (DMD) of the Union Ministry of Home
Affairs. In addition, it has scanned media reports to track the events—
particularly the pre-monsoon period when official data is inadequate.
The media reports have also provided further information on the extent
of loss and damage.

SOURCE USED: INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT

Information on extreme weather events in a 24-hour period and
forecasts and warnings are published in IMD’s All India Weather
Summary and Forecast bulletins and daily press releases. CSE/DTE
tracks each day’s report from the IMD website and maps out the events
by state and Union Territory (UT) and event type.
On loss and damage due to extreme weather events, IMD uses media
reports and publishes the number of human deaths and livestock
losses in its “Climate Summary for the Month”.

SOURCE USED: HOME MINISTRY’S DISASTER

MANAGEMENT DIVISION
The department under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issues a
“Situation report regarding flood/Heavy rainfall in the country” as and

6
How IMD defines extreme
weather events
LIGHTNING AND STORMS COLD DAY/COLDWAVE
Lightning is an electrical discharge caused Cold day conditions occur when the
by imbalances between storm clouds and maximum temperature drops by 4.5°C to
the ground or within the clouds themselves. 6.4°C than average. If the deviation is more
Storms include duststorms (caused by than 6.4°C, then it is considered a severe
thunderstorms or strong pressure gradients cold day. Coldwave conditions occur when
associated with cyclones which increase the minimum temperature drops by 4.5°C to
wind speed over a wide area), hailstorms 6.4°C than normal. Similarly, severe coldwave
(an outgrowth of a severe thunderstorm in occurs when the minimum temperature
which balls or irregularly shaped lumps of drops by more than 6.4°C than normal. The
ice fall with the rain), thunderstorms and report has considered all the four categories.
gales (a very strong wind).
SNOWFALL
HEAVY RAINS, FLOODS AND Snowfall is a hydrological hazard where a
LANDSLIDES large amount of snow can affect transport,
Heavy rainfall happens when a region crops and people. IMD’s “Annual Disaster
receives 64.5-115.5 mm rain in 24 hours. Weather Report” reports the snowfall cases
In the case of very heavy rainfall, the over India that caused human deaths.
threshold increases to 115.6-204.4 mm and The report has also considered only those
in extremely heavy rainfall it is 204.5 mm snowfall events that caused deaths.
or more. The report has considered all very
heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events, CLOUDBURSTS
and heavy rainfall events only when they A cloudburst is very heavy rainfall (100
have caused damage. mm per hour) over a localised area. It
is accompanied with strong winds and
HEATWAVES lightning.
Heatwave conditions signify a certain
amount of rise in temperature at a given CYCLONES
place with respect to normal climatological Cyclones are intense vortex or whirls in the
value. The report has considered heatwaves atmosphere with very strong winds circulating
(4.5°C to 6.4°C departure of the maximum around them in anti-clockwise direction in
temperature from normal), and severe the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise
heatwaves (departure of more than 6.4°C). direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

when the event happens. It includes the forecast from IMD and the
Central Water Commission (on floods). It also has a section on damages
reported by the states/Union Territories in the previous 24-hour period.
From June 10, 2022, the situation reports have provided the
“Cumulative loss and damage data for the monsoon season”. This
datasheet provides information on human deaths during the monsoon
period because of drowning, lightning, landslides and other reasons.
It also provides information about the damage to houses, crops and

7
INDIA 2024

livestock in the affected states. But starting 2024, the cumulative data
is not published online. As a result, CSE/DTE database this year had
to source its loss and damage numbers from the “Damage reported by
States/UTs during the last 24 hrs” table published under the “Situation
report regarding Flood/ Heavy rainfall in the Country”. An analysis
of the previous years shows that the cumulative numbers are usually
higher than the total of the daily numbers. DMD must resume releasing
the cumulative numbers since they are more comprehensive.
The situation reports are primarily for floods and heavy rainfall, and
cyclones; India needs similar daily assessment for all weather-related
disasters and the loss and damage they cause, given the frequency of
these events.
One of the key indicators to establish the extent of damage is
“people affected”. It is also a target under the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction (target B-1), by the UN Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction. While DMD’s daily situation report provides information
on this globally accepted parameter of population affected, it is not
included in the cumulative loss and damage datasheet. DMD must
require states to provide this data at the end of each weather disaster so
that it can be included in the cumulative data that is issued for the
monsoon period.
In addition, each state has a disaster management authority
(SDMA), which report on the events on their websites. However, the
data is at best sketchy and not released regularly. There are signs of
change. Assam’s SDMA releases daily situation reports with details on
the extent of loss and damage. But, in this CSE/DTE report, SDMA data
has not been considered as it is not uniformly available for the country.
In the case of any discrepancy in the three sources—IMD, DMD and
media reports— the source with the highest reported number has been
considered. Also, since DMD does not provide data on crop area affected
for the pre-monsoon period, CSE/DTE has sourced it from media reports
(which is also used by IMD for compiling its loss and damage data).

GAPS IN DATA
While a realistic estimate can be made about the number of days the
country recorded extreme weather events from IMD releases, major
gaps remain when it comes to loss and damage assessment. DMD
provides data as received by the states, which are mainly for the
monsoon season. It does not include all extreme events as defined by
IMD. Moreover, the data is not comprehensive. For instance, media
reports suggest widespread crop loss in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Gujarat during the monsoon season (June-September),

8
 INDIA 2024

but the Centre’s loss and damage report for the season does not
quantify the same. The absence of a robust public database on extreme
weather events in the country poses difficulties in the evaluation of
disaster situations and their impacts.
It is also clear that now, given the intensity and frequency of these
events, the country no longer needs to count just the disasters; it needs
credible numbers on the loss and damage.

WHY THIS REPORT?

India recorded extreme weather events on 255 of the 274 days from
January 1 to September 30, 2024. This means that for more than 90 per
cent of the first nine months of this year, India had an extreme weather
event breaking in one or more parts of the country. It also experienced
record-breaking temperatures for several months even as regions
across the country were deluged because of very and extremely heavy
rainfall. This led to floods and the loss of life and livestock. This speaks
of the increased frequency and intensity of the extreme events that we
are seeing in our rapidly warming world.
What the country has witnessed so far in 2024 is the new abnormal
in a warming world. A 2020 report by the UN Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction says globally, there has been “a sharp increase [in disasters]
over the previous twenty years”.
The CSE/DTE report is an attempt to build an evidence base on the
frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in
India. This is extremely important as currently fragmented data on
extreme weather events are publicly available and they fail to provide
the overall picture. It provides season-wise, month-wise and region-
wise analysis of extreme weather events and their associated loss
and damage. Along with this report, DTE also has “India’s Atlas on
Weather Disasters”, an open-access online public interactive database
on extreme weather events that is updated every month.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY FINDINGS

India faced extreme weather events on 93 per cent of days in the first
nine months of this year, marked by heat and coldwaves, cyclones,
lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslides. These events claimed
3,238 lives, affected 3.2 million hectares of crops, destroyed 235,862
houses, and killed approximately 9,457 livestock. This reported damage
is likely an underestimate due to incomplete data collection on event-
specific losses, particularly public property and crop damage.
Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather every other day, the
most in the country. However, Kerala recorded the highest fatalities

9
INDIA 2024

at 550, followed by Madhya Pradesh (353 deaths) and Assam (256

deaths). Andhra Pradesh had the most houses damaged (85,806), while
Maharashtra, which saw extreme events on 142 days, accounted for
over 60 per cent of the affected crop area nationwide, followed by
Madhya Pradesh (25,170 ha).
Regionally, the Central area faced the highest frequency of extreme
events, with 218 days, followed closely by the Northwest at 213 days.
In terms of lives lost, the Central region had the most deaths (1,001),
followed by the South Peninsula (762 deaths), East and Northeast (741
deaths), and the Northwest (734 deaths) .
The year 2024 also set several climate records. January was
India’s ninth driest since 1901. In February, the country recorded
its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years. May saw
the fourth-highest mean temperature on record, and July, August,
and September all registered their highest minimum temperatures
since 1901. In the Northwest, January was the second driest, and
July recorded the region’s second-highest minimum temperature.
The South Peninsula saw its hottest February ever, followed by
exceptionally hot and dry March and April, but with a 36.5 per
cent surplus in July rainfall and the second-highest minimum
temperature in August.
These record-breaking statistics reflect climate change’s impact,
where events that used to occur once every century are now
happening every five years or less. This frequency overwhelms the
most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this
relentless cycle of loss and damage.
In terms of event types, the past nine months have seen
everything from lightning and storms—spanning 32 states and
resulting in 1,021 deaths—to relentless monsoon rains, which led to
flooding across various regions. In Assam alone, heavy rains, floods
and landslides were recorded on 122 days, leaving large parts of the
state submerged and communities devastated. Nationwide, 1,376 lives
were lost due to floods.
While heatwaves claimed 210 lives, the data does not reflect the
extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the
well-being of people in north India, including farmers and labourers,
who endured intense heat with little means of relief. Similarly, the
toll of severe cold snaps and frost on crop losses is not captured,
highlighting the need for robust compensation systems for weather-
induced losses. For instance, there are many media reports on crop
damage across the agrarian states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,

10
 INDIA 2024

Rajasthan and Haryana, though no credible and comparable national

data is available for the same.
The extreme weather report card is essential reading, as it reveals
not only the frequency of such events but also the cumulative and
far-reaching damage they cause. This underscores the urgent need
for systems that accurately capture losses, giving a human face to the
impacts of climate change.
The report highlights a critical shift needed in our approach
to extreme events—from disaster response to risk reduction and
resilience-building. Flood management, for example, requires
more than plans on paper; it calls for the strategic development of
drainage and water recharge systems, along with expanded green
spaces and forests to act as natural water reservoirs in preparation
for future storms.
Additionally, the report emphasises the need for climate reparations
from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage.
Climate models are clear: extreme weather events are set to become
more frequent and severe. This trend is no longer hypothetical—it is
visible in the escalating crises we face today. In the first nine months
of 2024, India experienced extreme weather events on 255 out of 274
days, surpassing the 235 days in 2023 and the 241 days in 2022 for the
same period. This increase in frequency has led to devastating human
and economic losses, with 3,238 lives lost in 2024 compared to 2,755 in
2022—a rise of 18 per cent in just three years.
This report is not good news, but it is a necessary warning, a call to
recognise nature’s backlash and the urgent action required to mitigate
it. Without combating climate change at a meaningful scale, today’s
challenges will only worsen tomorrow.

11
INDIA 2024

DISASTER A DAY
India experienced extreme weather events on 255 of the 274 days, or a little over 93 per cent
of the days from January 1 to September 30. They claimed 3,238 lives, affected 3.2 million
hectares (ha) of crop area, damaged 235,862 houses and killed over 9,457 animals

Region-wise extreme weather events (January 1- September 30, 2024)

Number of days Deaths Crop area affected (ha) Total animal deaths (big and small)
Houses damaged (fully and partially)

Central region
It recorded extreme weather events on 218 of the 274 days,
which claimed 1,001 lives, damaged 2.08 million ha crop area

Madhya Pradesh 176 353 25,170 61 7,278

Maharashtra 142 208 1,951,801 166 93
Gujarat 102 210 100,000 2,618 19,571
Odisha 99 112 0 0 1,761
Chhattisgarh 92 110 0 54 1,533
*Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Goa 54 8 740 0 298
DNH&DD* 0 0 0 0 0 Daman & Diu

South Peninsula region

It recorded extreme weather events on 168 of the 274 days,
which claimed 762 lives, damaged 425.62K ha of crop area

Kerala 113 550 4,717 0 4,881

Karnataka 96 60 83,605 50 2,493
Tamil Nadu 67 25 1,039 14 189
Andhra Pradesh 60 60 262,840 501 85,806
Telangana 50 66 73,418 4,350 0
Puducherry 19 1 0 0 0
Andaman & Nicobar 9 0 0 0 0
Lakshadweep 3 0 0 0 0

Northwest region
It recorded extreme weather events on 213 of the 274 days,
which claimed 734 lives, damaged 44.91K ha of crop area

Uttar Pradesh 156 256 0 23 1,797

Himachal Pradesh 136 214 0 110 734
Rajasthan 124 105 0 0 1,227
Uttarakhand 102 85 3,783 0 3,216
Punjab 96 24 15,000 0 73
Haryana 82 4 26,131 0 0
Delhi 46 16 0 0 0
Chandigarh 38 0 0 0 0
Jammu and Kashmir 38 30 0 0 2,133
Ladakh 4 0 0 0 0

12
 INDIA 2024
Number of days Deaths Crop area affected (ha) Total animal deaths (big and small)
Houses damaged (fully and partially)

East and Northeast region

It recorded extreme weather events on 191 of the 274 days, which claimed 741 lives,
damaged 652.83K ha of crop area

Assam 131 201 48,281 1,408 77,559

Sikkim 98 21 0 0 1,988
Meghalaya 93 18 0 0 218
Bihar 88 205 300,000 0 1,096
West Bengal 83 64 200,900 0 0
Jharkhand 59 63 0 100 0
Tripura 50 86 103,000 0 14,971
Nagaland 46 25 0 0 1,556
Arunachal Pradesh 42 5 0 0 252
Mizoram 24 45 130 0 29
Manipur 18 8 522 0 5,110

Day-wise extreme weather events in India

(January 1 - September 30, 2024)
Number of affected states and Union Territories
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
January-February

Lightning and storm Heavy rain, flood and landslide

Heatwave Coldwave/cold day Cloudburst
Cyclone Snowfall
March-May
June-September

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and media reports
13
INDIA 2024

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

SEASON-WISE
14
 INDIA 2024

WINTER
January - February 2024
(60 days)

India experienced extreme weather events

on 50 out of the 60 days in the winter
months of 2024. The events were spread
across 19 states/UTs

Coldwaves/cold days were reported

on 38 days, lightning and storms on
17 days, followed by heavy rains, floods and
landslides on 5 days and snowfall on 1 day

The events claimed 15 human lives and

affected crop area across 41,910 hectares

Punjab and Haryana were the worst hit as

they experienced extreme weather events
on 34 days. They were followed by
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan that
experienced extreme weather events on
27 and 26 days, respectively

15
 INDIA 2024
JANUARY
TEMPERATURE
January recorded the 4th highest minimum temperature since
1901, with the average minimum temperature standing 0.97°C
above the long-term average (1981-2010). Central India and the
South Peninsula experienced warmer-than-usual temperatures.

South Peninsula recorded its 4th warmest January since 1901

Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
5.52

22.62

30.68

26.43
25.66

27.74
16.44
20.16
14.66

22.18
17.79

21.37
10.25
11.65

0.06 0.97 0.51 -0.54 -0.10 -0.32 -0.41 0.29 -0.06 -0.06 1.43 0.6915.0 0.67 1.59 1.13
e rainfall distribution forIndia
January 2024.Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula
all distribution for January 2024.
of rainfall during January
RAINFALL 2024, normal rainfall
infall during
rainfall India
fromexperienced
January
departures 2024, during
normal normal 9thrainfall
its January
driest January (7.2 mm) this year, with rainfall levels
all departures from58 pernormal
cent lower thanJanuary
during the long period average (1971-2020). Rainfall over
northwest India (3.1 mm) was the 2nd lowest since 1901. South Peninsula alone
ditched the dry spell and recorded a rainfall surplus of 133 per cent over normal.

19 sub-divisions received large deficient rainfall and seven received large excess.
Only six sub-divisions received normal rainfall
( ) Absolute rainfall (mm)
Rainfall anomaly 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
from 1971-2020
average (%) 133.0%
(18.2)
East & Northeast
Northwest

Central
India

South Peninsula

-29.0%
-58.0% (5.3)
-40 -20 -10 0 10 20 40 (7.2) -67.0%
-91.0% (5.6)
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune (3.1)
or the month of January 2024 over India and
ermal (1971ofto
month 2020 period).
16January 2024 over India and
1971 to 2020 period).
 INDIA 2024
JANUARY
Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS experienced extreme weather events each day

01 6
India experienced extreme
weather events on all 31 days in 02 5

January. This was spread across 03 5

15 states/UTs. Haryana and Punjab 04 5 1
were the worst hit with extreme 05 5
weather events on 30 and 28 days
06 4
of the month, respectively.
07 6

08 4

09 8

0 6 12 18 24 30 10 6 1 1
11 9

12 9

13 4

14 6
January 2024

15 6

16 3

17 10

18 7

19 10

20 8
Statewise number of
days with extreme 21 12
weather events
22 9

23 9

LOSS AND DAMAGE 24 9 2

25 9

6 26 4

27 4
people died due to extreme
28 5
events in Bihar in January
29 2

30 1

0 31 2 5

No crop area loss was

Coldwave/ Heavy rain, flood Lightning
recorded across India cold day and landslide and storm
(31 days) (2 days) (3 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
17
 INDIA 2024
FEBRUARY

TEMPERATURE
India recorded an average minimum temperature of 14.61°C in February,
the 2nd highest since 1901. In the South Peninsula, temperatures soared,
setting records for the highest February maximum, minimum, and
mean temperatures.
Central India and South Peninsula saw record-high minimum
temperatures this February
Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
24.97

33.09
30.95

23.79
27.59

19.09

16.62
21.69

27.13
21.10
14.61

13.21

21.17
15.11
8.54

0.01 0.79 0.40 -0.68 -0.41 -0.55 -0.74 0.54 -0.10 0.43 1.63 1.03 0.97 1.43 1.20
rainfall distribution for February 2024.
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula
ll distribution for February 2024.
of rainfall during February 2024, normal rainfall
RAINFALL
nfall
rainfallduring February
departures 2024, during
from normal normal rainfall
February
Overall rainfall in February was 13 per cent below the Long Period
ll departures from normal
Average during
of 22.7 February
mm. Only the Eastern and Northeastern region saw
above-average rainfall, while other areas recorded deficits. In particular,
South Peninsula India received just 0.7 mm of rainfall, marking the 15th
lowest February rainfall since 1901.

South Peninsula recorded a rainfall deficit of 91 per cent in February

( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly
00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
from 1971-2020
average (%)
South Peninsula
Northwest

13.0%
Central
India

(33.8)
East & Northeast

-13.0% -13.0%
(19.7) (39.3) -18.0%
(6.1)

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30

-91.0%
(0.7)
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune

ern for the18

month of February 2024 over
r the month oftoFebruary
m normal (1971 2020 period).
2024 over
 EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS INDIA 2024
India experienced extreme weather
FEBRUARY
events on 19 out of the 29 days in Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
experienced extreme weather events each day
February. This was spread across 16
states/UTs. Himachal Pradesh and 01 4
Madhya Pradesh were the worst 02 1
hit with extreme weather events 03
on 8 and 7 days in the month,
04 3
respectively
05 1

06 2 1
07 3
08 2
09 4
0 6 12 18 24 30 10 2 1
11 1 4
12 2
February 2024

13

14

15 1 2
16

17

18

19 6
Statewise number of
days with extreme 20
weather events
21

22 1 1 1
LOSS AND DAMAGE 23

9 24 1

25 1
people died due to extreme
26 1
events. Himachal Pradesh,
27 5
Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra (2 deaths 28 2

each) and Jharkhand (1)

41,910 hectares
of cropped area affected across
Maharashtra (30,691 ha) and Lightning Coldwave/ Heavy rain, Snowfall
and storm cold day flood and (1 day)
Haryana (11,219 ha) (14 days) (7 days) landslide (3 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
19
INDIA 2024

20
 INDIA 2024

PRE
MONSOON
March-May 2024
(92 days)

India experienced extreme weather events

on 83 out of the 92 days in the pre-monsoon
months of 2024. The events were spread
across 34 states/UTs

Lightning and storms were reported on

71 days, heatwaves on 54 days, followed
by heavy rains, floods and landslides on
40 days

The events claimed 507 human lives

and affected crop area across
0.12 million hectares

Madhya Pradesh was the worst

hit with extreme weather events on
49 days, followed by Maharashtra (44 days)
and West Bengal (33 days)

21
 INDIA 2024
MARCH

TEMPERATURE
While India’s overall temperatures in March stayed close
to normal, the South Peninsula experienced unusual heat,
recording its 3rd highest maximum temperature at 35.28°C,
2nd highest minimum at 23.33°C, and 2nd mean temperature
at 29.31°C.

South Peninsula recorded a minimum temperature anomaly of 1.05°C

Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
20.42
24.92

34.68
23.23
27.59

23.33
35.28
19.66
29.21

17.24
13.26

29.31
27.17
18.14
31.71

0.01 0.43 0.22 -0.06 -0.12 -0.09 -0.65 0.30 -0.18 -0.06 0.55 0.25 0.68 1.05 0.87

wise
nfallrainfall distribution
distribution forfor March2024.
March
India
2024. Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
ion of rainfall
ainfall during during March
March
While 2024,
2024,
India’s normal
normal
overall rainfall
rainfall
rainfall was slightly below average, the
nd rainfall departures
fall departures from normal
fromPeninsula
South normal sawduring
during March
a 79March
per cent deficit, and Central India recorded
a 104 per cent surplus. East and Northeast India, along with the
Northwest—regions that typically receive most March rainfall in the
country—also recorded minor deficits.

12 sub-divisions received large deficient rainfall and 10 received large excess

Rainfall anomaly ( ) Absolute rainfall in mm

from 1971-2020 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
average (%)

104.0%
(15.9)
East & Northeast
South Peninsula
Northwest
India

Central

-5.0% -4.0% -12.0%

(28.5) (45.9) (52.6)
-40 -20 -10 0 10 20 40
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune -79.0%
(3.3)
22
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS INDIA 2024
MARCH
India experienced extreme weather
Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
events on 22 out of the 31 days in experienced extreme weather events each day
March. This was spread across 27
states/UTs. Himachal Pradesh and 01 5
Uttar Pradesh were the worst hit 2 9
02
with extreme weather events on 11
03 1 6
days in the month. Lightning and
04 1
storms were recorded on 18 days in
the month, followed by heavy rains, 05 1

floods and landslides on 9 days. 06

07

08

09
0 6 12 18 24 30
10

11 1

12 1

13 1

14
March 2024

15

16 4
17 4
18 5
19 6 1
Statewise number of
days with extreme 20 5 1
weather events
21 1 1 1

22
LOSS AND DAMAGE
23 1

56 24

25 3 2
people died due to extreme 26 3
events. Jammu and Kashmir (11),
27 1
Tripura (10) and Rajasthan (6)
28 1 1

29 7 2

62,969 hectares 30

31
3
8
of crop area affected. Madhya
Pradesh (24,925 ha), Punjab
Lightning Heatwave Heavy rain,
(15,000 ha), Haryana (14,912 ha) and storm (4 days) flood and
(18 days) landslide (9 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
23
INDIA 2024
APRIL

TEMPERATURE
South Peninsula recorded its 2nd highest maximum, minimum
and mean temperatures since 1901, while East and Northeast
India experienced its highest-ever minimum and mean
temperatures.

Maximum temperature of East and Northeast India was 2.25°C above the normal
Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
26.06
29.06

34.05
22.45

30.87
23.87
35.67

33.25

37.88

37.25

25.53
22.19

28.12
18.86

31.39
0.65 0.88 0.76 -0.20 0.32 0.06 2.25 1.78 2.01 -0.03 0.70 0.34 1.35 1.09 1.22
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
India received 31.4 mm of rainfall, 20 per cent below the Long
Period Average of 39.3 mm. Central and Northwest India recorded
surplus rainfall at 64 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively, while
the South Peninsula and East and Northeast India faced deficits of
63 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively.
12 sub-divisions received large deficient rainfall and 6 received large excess

Rainfall anomaly ( ) Absolute rainfall in mm

from 1971-2020 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
average (%)
South Peninsula

East & Northeast

64.0%
(15.1)
21.0%
(38.7)
India

Northwest

Central

-20.0%
(31.4) -39.0%
-63.0% (75.2)
-40 -20 -10 0 10 20 40 (12.6)
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune

24
 INDIA 2024
APRIL
Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS experienced extreme weather events each day

India experienced extreme weather 01 2 1

events on all the 30 days in April.
02 1 1 2
This was spread across 31 states/
03 1
UTs. Odisha was the worst hit with
extreme weather events on 19 days, 04 3
followed by West Bengal (18 days), 05 3
and Karnataka (17 days). 06 7
4
07 2 4
08 5 1

0 6 12 18 24 30
09 5
10 3
11 5
12 3
13 3
14 1 1
April 2024

15 1 2

16 4 4
17 2 3

18 5
Statewise number of
days with extreme 19 7 4 2
weather events
20 6 5 6
21 4 4
LOSS AND DAMAGE
22 7 4

60 23 6 6

people died due to extreme 24 4 6 2

events. Assam and Odisha (11 25 2 7 1
deaths each) and Karnataka (6) 26 4 7

27 6 7

58,336 hectares 28

29 2
6
9
6 1

of crop area affected.

30 1 6
Maharashtra ( 50,000 ha),
Assam (6,546 ha) and West Lightning Heatwave Heavy rain,
Bengal (900 ha) and storm (25 days) flood and
(26 days) landslide (6 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
25
 eceived large excess, 7 received excess, 7 received
eived
d largelarge excess,
deficient rainfall7 (Figure
received
2). excess, 7 received
rge deficient rainfall (Figure 2).

INDIA 2024
MAY

TEMPERATURE
In May 2024, India’s average maximum, minimum, and mean
temperatures were 37.32ºC, 24.83ºC, and 31.08ºC, respectively,
exceeding the normal by 0.72ºC, 0.66ºC, and 0.69ºC. Northwest
recorded its 3rd maximum since 1901 with an anomaly of 1.81ºC.

India recorded its fourth-highest mean temperature for May in 2024

Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
30.99
24.83

23.63

32.86
28.67

35.94

30.77
38.36
37.32

33.72

39.53

26.19
31.08

23.61

25.61
0.72 0.66 0.69 1.81 1.24 1.53 1.12 0.83 0.98 0.27 0.31 0.29 -0.44 0.19 -0.12
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
e rainfall distribution for May 2024
infall distribution for Peninsula
South May 2024 experienced 74 per cent excess rainfall, and Central
India
rainfall during May saw
2024, a surplus
normal of based
rainfall nearlyon
32data
per cent. In stark contrast, Northwest
nfall during May
m normal during MayIndia
2024, remained
2024normal unusually
in Figuredry,
rainfall
are shown based 3. recording a significant rainfall deficit of
on data
ormal during May66 per cent.
2024 are shown in Figure 3.

8 sub-divisions received large deficient rainfall and 11 received large excess

( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
from 1971-2020
average (%)

74.2%
East & Northeast

(125.1)
31.8%
Northwest

8.2% (25.0)
(66.5)
India

Central

South Peninsula

-1.5%
(187.0)

-66.0%
-75 -50 -25 0 25 50 75 (11.8)
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune
ern for the month May 2024 over India and their
neriod).
for theDeparture
month
26 Mayfrom2024 over
normal India and
(anomaly) is their
actual
od). Departure from
l - normal rainfall. normal (anomaly) is actual
 INDIA 2024
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS M AY
India experienced extreme Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
weather events on all the experienced extreme weather events each day

31 days in May. This was 01 1 8 1

spread across 34 states/UTs.
02 2 7 1
Maharashtra was the worst hit
with extreme weather events 03 1 5

on 25 days, followed by Madhya 04 1 7

Pradesh (24 days), and Rajasthan 05 4 7 6
and Tamil Nadu (19 days each). 06 5 4
07 6 2 1
08 5 1
09 4 1 2
0 6 12 18 24 30
10 10
11 13 1
12 7 2
13 4 3
14 5
May 2024

15 1 2

16 3 1 4
17 2 8 2
18 1 8 4

Statewise number of 19 5 10 4
days with extreme
weather events 20 5 7 3
21 4 7 3

LOSS AND DAMAGE 22 1 7 4

391
23 1 10 1
24 9 2
people died due to extreme events. 25 1 8 1
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (57 deaths 26 4 8 3 6
each), Maharashtra (52) and West
27 11 7 6
Bengal (42)
28 11 7 6

1,708 hectares
29 13 3

30 4 14 4
of crop area was affected. Tamil 31 1 16 2
Nadu (1,039 ha), Manipur (522
Lightning Heatwave Heavy rain, flood Cyclone
ha), Mizoram (130 ha) and landslide (3 days)
and storm (25 days)
(27 days) (25 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
27
INDIA 2024

28
 INDIA 2024

MONSOON June-September 2024

(122 days)

India experienced extreme weather events

on all 122 days in the monsoon months of
2024. The events were spread across
35 states/UTs

Heavy rains, floods and landslides were

reported on 122 days, followed by lightning
and storms (103 days), heatwaves (23 days),
cloudbursts (14 days) and cyclones (4 days)

The events claimed 2,716 human lives

and affected crop area across
3.04 million hectares

Assam was the worst hit with extreme

weather events on 111 days. It was followed
by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
(105 days each)

29
 INDIA 2024
JUNE

TEMPERATURE
In June 2024, India’s average maximum, minimum and mean temperatures
were 35.62ºC, 25.47ºC, and 30.55ºC, respectively—exceeding the normal by
1.02ºC, 0.81ºC, and 0.91ºC. Northwest India recorded its highest maximum
(1.96ºC above normal) and mean (1.65ºC above normal) temperatures.

East and Northeast India recorded highest minimum temperature for June
Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC

28.93
24.66
26.30
29.07
38.02

25.44

33.20
36.65
25.47
35.62

30.55

33.01

31.48
25.14
31.73

1.02 0.81 0.91 1.96 1.35 1.65 1.07 0.95 1.01 0.96 0.67 0.82 -0.20 0.17 -0.01
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
India’s rainfall for June 2024 was 147.2 mm, 11 per cent below the Long
Period Average (165.3 mm). The South Peninsula saw a 14.2 per cent
surplus, while Central (-13.7 per cent), Northwest (-32.6 per cent), and
East and Northeast India (-13.3 per cent) recorded deficits.

This year, India recorded its seventh-lowest May rainfall since 2001

( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly
from 1971-2020 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
average (%)
East & Northeast
Northwest

14.2%
Central
India

(183.9)
South Peninsula

-10.9% -13.7% -13.3%

(147.2) -32.6% (147.0) (284.9)
(52.6)
-100 -50 -25 0 25 50 100
Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune
pattern for the month June 2024 over India and
ern for the30(1971
om normal month Juneperiod).
to 2020 2024 over India and
ormal
omaly =(1971
actualtorainfall
2020 period).
- normal rainfall)
y = actual rainfall - normal rainfall)
 INDIA 2024
JUNE
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
experienced extreme weather events each day
India experienced extreme
weather events on all the 30 days 01 5 10 3
in June. This was spread across 02 6 6 7
35 states/UTs. Kerala and Uttar
03 2 8 8
Pradesh were the worst hit with
04 4 5 10
extreme weather events on 27 days
each, followed by Assam (26 days), 05 11 5 7
and Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim 06 9 1 4
(25 days each). 07 5 2 9
08 2 3 9
09 4 5 7
0 6 12 18 24 30
10 3 9 8
11 4 12 10

12 1 15 4
13 1 11 6
14 2 14 7
June 2024

15 1 16 8
16 1 15 6
17 4 14 9

18 4 12 14
Statewise number of 19 11 8
days with extreme
weather events 20 3 2 9

21 3 1 9

22 3 10
LOSS AND DAMAGE
23 3 10

424 24

5
6
2
2 13

14
people died due to extreme 25

events. Madhya Pradesh 26 9 18

(67 deaths), Odisha (62) and 27 5 15
Uttar Pradesh (38)
28 1 17
14

2,273 hectares
29

30 1 13

of crop area was affected Heavy rain, flood

Lightning Heatwave
in Assam and storm (23 days) and landslide
(28 days) (30 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
31
 INDIA 2024
JULY

TEMPERATURE
In 2024, India recorded its highest minimum temperature and the
2nd highest mean temperature for July, with anomalies of 0.89ºC and
0.7ºC, respectively. Unusually high minimum temperatures were
observed across all four regions of the country.
East and Northeast recorded its highest minimum, mean temperatures
for July in 123 years
Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC
34.40
24.99

24.84

27.99
25.42

32.45
28.65

27.56
25.57

29.01

24.12
29.91
32.31

31.01
31.13

0.52 0.89 0.70 1.32 1.34 1.33 1.50 1.19 1.34 -0.16 0.60 0.22 -0.43 0.43 0.00
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

of rainfall during July 2024, normal rainfall

RAINFALL
dinfall during
rainfall July 2024,
departures from
In July
normalduring
normal
2024,
rainfall
July total rainfall of 305.8 mm, exceeding
India recorded
nfall departures thefrom
Longnormal during July
Period Average by 9 per cent. Central India and South
Peninsula experienced excess rainfall of 33 per cent and 36.5 per cent,
respectively. In contrast, Northwest and the East and Northeast regions
faced deficits of 14.3 per cent and 23.3 per cent, respectively.

East & Northeast India also recorded its 12th driest July in 123 years
( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly
from 1971-2020 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
average (%)
East & Northeast
Northwest

33.0% 36.5%
9.0% (427.2) (279.2)
(305.8)
India

South Peninsula
Central

-14.3%
-23.3%
(179.7)
(325.3)

-100 -50 -25 0 50 100 200

for the month ofSource:

JulyIndia
2024Meteorological Department, Pune
over India and
he
malmonth of2020
(1971 to Julyperiod).
2024 over India and
32
(1971 to 2020
y = actual period).
rainfall - normal rainfall.
 INDIA 2024
J U LY
Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
experienced extreme weather events each day
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
India experienced extreme weather 01 2 14
events on all the 31 days in July. 02 4 15
This was spread across 32 states/
03 2 16
UTs. Assam and Uttar Pradesh were
04 3 15
the worst hit with extreme weather
events on 31 days each, followed by 05 4 18

Gujarat (30 days), and Karnataka 06 2 14

and Kerala (29 days each). 07 2 15
08 2 16
09 5 10
0 6 12 18 24 30
10 6 13
11 6 13
12 4 18
13 1 13

14 3 17
July 2024

15 2 16
16 3 17
17 1 13
18 3 18

Statewise number of 19 4 18
days with extreme
weather events 20 2 12
21 2 15
LOSS AND DAMAGE 22 19
3

1,196
23 16
24 1 19

people died due to extreme events. 25 1 17

Kerala (447 deaths), Assam (133) 26 13
and Uttar Pradesh (122) 27 2 14
28 3 15

255,821 hectares
29 2 17
30 2 16
of crop area was affected. 31 2 21 1
Gujarat (100,000 ha), Maharashtra
Lightning Heavy rain, flood Cloudburst
(68,000 ha), Assam (39,452 ha) and landslide
and storm (1 day)
(29 days) (31 days)

Sources: The India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
33
 INDIA 2024
AUGUST

TEMPERATURE
India recorded its highest minimum temperature for August. Central
India noted its peak minimum temperature, while South Peninsula
registered its 2nd highest. East and Northeast, along with Northwest
India, saw their 4th highest minimum temperatures.
India recorded its fourth-highest mean temperature for August in 2024
Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC

24.09
24.26
24.98

30.76
24.27

28.36
23.98

27.67
27.79

27.87
31.36

31.65
31.73

27.51
31.31

0.30 0.59 0.45 -0.32 0.62 0.15 0.67 0.53 0.60 0.43 0.55 0.49 0.66 0.68 0.67
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
India experienced a marginally above-normal rainfall in August, with
all regions recording some degree of surpluses. Northwest region saw
the highest surplus at 30.1 per cent, followed by Central India with a
16.5 per cent increase.
5 sub-divisions received large excess rainfall and 8 received excess

( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
from 1971-2020
average (%)

30.1%
15.3% (256.4) 16.5% 6.6% 2.0%
(293.9) (359.6)
(203.4) (338.8)
India

Northwest

Central

South Peninsula

East & Northeast

-100 -50 -25 0 50 100 200

Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune
or the month August 2024 over India and their
od (anomaly
e month = actual
August
34 rainfall
2024 over - normal rainfall)
India and their
nomaly = actual rainfall - normal rainfall)
 EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS INDIA 2024
AUGUST
India experienced extreme
Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
weather events on all the experienced extreme weather events each day
31 days in August. This was
spread across 33 states/UTs. 01 4 16
Assam was the worst hit with 02 3 16 1
extreme weather events on 03 13 1
29 days, followed by Madhya
04 2 12
Pradesh and Kerala
05 1 15
(27 days each).
06 1 11 1
07 2 16 1
08 14 1
09 10
0 6 12 18 24 30
10 1 16

11 13 1

12 1 10

13 1 18 1
August 2024

14 3 14 1

15 2 13

16 3 13

17 4 12 1

18 2 13 1

Statewise number of 19 5 16 1
days with extreme
weather events 20 5 16

21 2 13

LOSS AND DAMAGE 22 4 12

624 23 1 14

24 1 12
people died due to extreme 25 3 11
events. Himachal Pradesh
26 15 2
(78 deaths), Gujarat (71) and
27 15
Madhya Pradesh (65)
28 2 11

219,971 hectares
29 3 13

30 2 10 3
of crop area was affected. Tripura 31 1 13 3
(103,000 ha), Karnataka (80,973
ha), Telangana (32,203 ha) Lightning Heavy rain, flood Cloudburst Cyclone
and storm and landslide (12 days) (2 days)
(25 days) (31 days)
Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
35
 INDIA 2024
SEPTEMBER

TEMPERATURE
September was warmer than usual, with India recording its highest-
ever average minimum temperature for the month. The mean
temperature was also the 2nd highest on record.

East & Northeast India recorded its hottest-ever September

Average maximum temperature Mean temperature
Average minimum temperature 00 Anomaly from 1981-2010 average
All figures in oC

32.04
27.40

24.93
22.84

27.96
28.76

23.98
23.79

32.59

23.88
27.88

27.75
31.96

31.95

31.53
0.53 0.99 0.76 0.23 1.29 0.76 1.87 1.23 1.55 -0.03 0.78 0.37 0.59 0.67 0.63
India Northwest East & Northeast Central South Peninsula

RAINFALL
India experienced a near-normal rain this September (187.3
mm). Central and Northwest India experienced 32.3 and 29.2
per cent surplus rainfall respectively. In contrast, East &
Northeast India recorded a 18.2 per cent deficit rainfall.

India received a 11.6 per cent surplus rainfall this September

( ) Absolute rainfall in mm
Rainfall anomaly 00 Anomaly from 1971-2020 average
from 1971-2020
average (%)
East & Northeast
South Peninsula

29.2% 32.3%
11.6%
(132.7) (235.0)
(187.3)

-2.7%
India

Northwest

Central

(155.7) -18.2%
(231.2)

-100 -50 -25 0 50 100 150

Source: India Meteorological Department, Pune
for the month September 2024 over India and their
riod). Departure from
month September 2024 over normal is anomaly
India and = actual
their
- normal 36
rainfall.
eparture from normal is anomaly = actual
al rainfall.
 INDIA 2024
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS SEPTEMBER
India experienced extreme weather Bars indicate the number of states/UTs that
experienced extreme weather events each day
events on all 30 days in September.
This was spread across 30 states/ 01 2 15 3
UTs. Madhya Pradesh was the worst 02 3 10 3
hit with extreme weather events on 03 8
26 days, followed by Assam (25 days)
04 1 7
and Uttar Pradesh (24 days).
05 4 11
06 6
07 2 13
0 6 12 18 24 30 08 2 11
09 1 8
10 4 9
11 11
12 8
13 1 8
September 2024

14 10
15 12
16 1 8
17 6
Statewise number of
days with extreme 18 7
weather events
19 1 8
20 10
LOSS AND DAMAGE
21 1 9 1

472 22 2 9

people died due to extreme 23 4 13

events. Madhya Pradesh (104 24 3 11
deaths), Bihar and Gujarat (50 25 3 16
each) and Himachal Pradesh (35)
26 5 9

2,558,088
27 2 11

28 1 5

hectares 29 3 9
of crop area was affected. 30 2 8
Maharashtra (1,800,000 ha),
Bihar (300,000 ha) and Lightning Heavy rain, flood Cloudburst Cyclone
Andhra Pradesh (225,686 ha) and storm and landslide (1 day) (2 days)
(21 days) (30 days)

Sources: India Meteorological Department, Pune, Disaster Management Division under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and media reports
37
INDIA 2024

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

DISASTER-WISE
38
 INDIA 2024
LIGHTNING AND STORM
On 191 of 274 days, India experienced lightning and storms. They claimed 1,021 lives
Number of days per state /UT 0 22 44 66 88 110

00 Number of days with

lightning and storm Ladakh
Jammu and
00 Human lives lost 2I0 Himachal
Kashmir Pradesh Uttarakhand Arunachal Pradesh
9I4 25 I 4 20 I 3 0I0
Punjab Sikkim
13 I 3 Uttar Pradesh 7 I 2
Chandigarh Assam
38 I 164
3I0 12 I 19
Haryana Bihar Meghalaya
Nagaland
14 I 4 Delhi 14 I 100 6I4
4I2
2I2
Rajasthan
29 I 49
Gujarat Manipur
22 I 35 4I2
Madhya Pradesh Mizoram
103 I 188 10 I 2

West Bengal Tripura

17 I 48 5 I 10
Maharashtra Goa Odisha Jharkhand
76 I 100 1I1 23 I 52 26 I 57

Chhattisgarh Andaman and

Karnataka Kerala 48 I 62 Nicobar
14 I 22 10 I 12 0I0
Telangana
Lakshadweep 25 I 41
0I0 Tamil Nadu Puducherry
12 I 12 0I0 Andhra Pradesh
12 I 17
IMD definition/criteria
Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground or within the clouds
themselves. Storm includes duststorms (caused by thunderstorms or strong pressure gradients associated with cyclones
which increase wind speed over a wide area), hailstorms (an outgrowth of a severe thunderstorm in which balls or
irregularly shaped lumps of ice fall with the rain), thunderstorms and gales (a very strong wind).

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days lightning and storm were recorded in India
Jan 3 31 days

Feb 14 29 days

Mar 18 31 days

Apr 26 30 days

May 27 31 days

Jun 28 30 days

Jul 29 31 days

Aug 25 31 days

Sep 21 30 days
39
INDIA 2024
HEAVY RAIN, FLOOD AND LANDSLIDE
On 167 of 274 days, India experienced the extreme weather event. They claimed 1,910 lives
Number of days per state /UT 0 25 50 75 100 125
00 Number of days with heavy
rain, flood and landslide
Ladakh
00 Human lives lost Jammu and 1 I 0 Himachal
Kashmir Pradesh Uttarakhand Arunachal Pradesh
17 I 23 88 I 180 59 I 81 42 I 5
Punjab Sikkim
25 I 21 Uttar Pradesh 90 I 19
Chandigarh Assam
80 I 48
1 I 0 122 I 180
Bihar Meghalaya
Haryana
Nagaland
9 I 0 Delhi 31 I 50 89 I 9
5 I 13 42 I 19
Rajasthan
43 I 40
Gujarat Manipur
79 I 175 13 I 3

Madhya Pradesh Mizoram

88 I 163 14 I 13

West Bengal Tripura

45 I 3 46 I 76
Maharashtra
Goa Odisha Jharkhand
79 I 87
52 I 7 47 I 0 11 I 0

Chhattisgarh Andaman and

Karnataka Kerala 51 I 41 Nicobar
67 I 38 107 I 534 9 I 0
Telangana
Lakshadweep 21 I 25
3 I 0 Tamil Nadu Puducherry
49 I 13 15 I 1 Andhra Pradesh
33 I 43
IMD definition/criteria
Heavy rainfall happens when a region receives 64.5-115.5 mm rain in 24 hours. In the case of very heavy rainfall, the
threshold increases to 115.6-204.4 mm and in extremely heavy rainfall it is 204.5 mm or more. The report has considered
all very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events, and heavy rainfall events only when they have caused damages.

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days heavy rain, flood and landslide were recorded in India
Jan 2 31 days

Feb 3 29 days

Mar 9 31 days

Apr 6 30 days

May 25 31 days

Jun 30

Jul 31

Aug 31

Sep 30

40
 INDIA 2024
HEATWAVE
On 77 of 274 days, India experienced heatwaves. They claimed 210 lives

Number of days per state /UT 0 8 16 24 32 40

00 Number of days with heatwave

00 Human lives lost Ladakh
1 I 0 Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
20 I 0
13 I 0
Chandigarh Uttarakhand
19 I 0 11 I 0
Punjab Uttar Pradesh
28 I 0 33 I 44
Haryana Sikkim
Bihar
29 I 0 Delhi 1 I 0
32 I 49
25 I 1
Rajasthan
35 I 16
Gujarat West Bengal
17 I 0 31 I 0
Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand
28 I 2 25 I 6
Odisha
Chhattisgarh 39 I 60
Maharashtra Goa 10 I 7
15 I 21 1 I 0
Telangana
Karnataka 12 I 0
19 I 0 Andhra Pradesh
19 I 0

Kerala Puducherry
4 I 4 Tamil Nadu 4 I 0
12 I 0
IMD definition/criteria
Heatwave conditions signify a certain amount of rise in temperature at a given place with respect to normal
climatological value. The report has considered heatwaves (4.5oC to 6.4oC departure of the maximum temperature from
normal), and severe heatwaves (departure of more than 6.4oC).

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days heatwave were recorded in India
Jan 31 days

Feb 29 days

Mar 4 31 days

Apr 25 30 days

May 25 31 days

Jun 23 30 days

Jul 31 days

Aug 31 days

Sep 30 days

41
INDIA 2024
COLDWAVE/COLD DAY
On 38 of 274 days, India experienced coldwave/cold days. They claimed 6 lives

0 8 16 24 32 40
Number of days per state /UT

00 Number of days with

coldwave/cold day
Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand
00 Human lives lost
13 I 0 14 I 0

Punjab Chandigarh Uttar Pradesh

31 I 0 15 I 0 24 I 0
Bihar Sikkim
Haryana Delhi 2 I 0
18 I 6
32 I 0 14 I 0

Rajasthan
23 I 0

Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand

14 I 0 2 I 0

West Bengal
5I 0

IMD definition/criteria
Cold day conditions occur when the maximum temperature drops by 4.5°C to 6.4°C than average. If the deviation is
more than 6.4°C, then it is considered severe cold day. Coldwave conditions occur when the minimum temperature
drops by 4.5°C to 6.4°C than normal. Similarly, severe coldwave occurs when the minimum temperature drops by
more than 6.4°C than normal. The report has considered all the four categories.

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days with coldwave/cold day
Jan 31

Feb 7 29 days

Mar 31 days

Apr 30 days

May 31 days

Jun 30 days

Jul 31 days

Aug 31 days

Sep 30 days

42
 INDIA 2024
SNOWFALL
On 1 of 274 days, India experienced snowfall. It caused 1 human death

0 1
Number of days per state /UT

00 Number of days with

snowfall
00 Human lives lost

Jammu and Kashmir

1 I 1

IMD definition/criteria
Snowfall is a hydrological hazard where a large amount of snow can affect transport, crops and people.
Annual Disaster Weather Report by IMD reports the snowfall cases over India that caused human deaths. The
report has also considered only those snowfall events that caused human deaths.

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days with snowfall
Jan 31 days

Feb 1 29 days

Mar 31 days

Apr 30 days

May 31 days

Jun 30 days

Jul 31 days

Aug 31 days

Sep 30 days

43
INDIA 2024
CLOUDBURST
On 14 of 274 days, India experienced cloudbursts. They claimed 33 lives

0 4 8 12
Number of days per state /UT

00 Number of days with

cloudbursts
00 Human lives lost
Jammu and Kashmir
2 I 2

Himachal Pradesh
12 I 30 Uttarakhand
1 I 1

IMD definition/criteria
Cloudburst is very heavy rainfall (100 mm per hour) over a localised area.
It is accompanied with strong winds and lightning.

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days with cloudburst
Jan 31 days

Feb 29 days

Mar 31 days

Apr 30 days

May 31 days

Jun 30 days

Jul 1 31 days

Aug 12 31 days

Sep 1 30 days

44
 INDIA 2024
CYCLONE
On 7 of 274 days, India experienced cyclones. They claimed 57 lives

2 4 6 8 10
Number of days per state /UT

00 Number of days with

cyclones
00 Human lives lost

Assam
3 I 2
Nagaland
3 I 4
Rajasthan
4 I 0
Gujarat Manipur
4 I 0 3 I 3

Mizoram
Madhya Pradesh Meghalaya
3 I 30
4 I 0 3 I 5
West Bengal
3 I 13

IMD definition/criteria
Cyclones are intense vortex or whirls in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around them
in anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern
Hemisphere.

FREQUENCY TRACKER
Number of days with cyclone
Jan 31 days

Feb 29 days

Mar 31 days

Apr 30 days

May 3 31 days

Jun 30 days

Jul 31 days

Aug 2 31 days

Sep 2 30 days

45
INDIA 2024

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS
(2022-24)
46
 INDIA 2024

I
n the first nine months of 2024, India experienced extreme
weather events on 255 out of 274 days, surpassing the 235 days
in 2023 and the 241 days in 2022 for the same period. This marks
2024 as the most extreme year in terms of weather events in the
past three years, with a trend of daily events persisting across 2022,
2023, and 2024.
Extreme weather events in India have not only become more
frequent but also more severe in impact. In 2024, these events reached
new peaks, with extreme weather occurring on 93 per cent of days
from January to September—up from 86 per cent in 2022 and 88 per
cent in 2023. This increase in frequency has led to devastating human
and economic losses, with 3,238 lives lost in 2024 compared to 2,755 in
2022—a rise of 18 per cent in just three years.
According to data from CSE/DTE’s atlas, the impact on agriculture
has been severe, with extreme weather affecting at least 3.2 million
hectares of cropped land in 2024, a 74 per cent increase from the
1.84 million hectares damaged in 2022. However, this number likely
underestimates the true damage, as data from major agricultural states
such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana was unavailable.
The intensification of extreme weather events aligns with the
projections from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
and other scientific studies warning of the increased frequency and
severity of these events due to climate change.
Over the past three years, all regions in India have reported more
extreme weather days, with Central India bearing the brunt. This
region saw the highest number of extreme weather days in 2024—218
days—and significant increases in crop loss, underscoring the high cost
of climate change borne by farmers.

SEASONAL BREAKDOWN OF EXTREME WEATHER IN 2024

Winter (January–February): Extreme weather events spanned 50
days, a sharp rise from 38 days in 2022 and 28 in 2023. Cold days and
coldwaves dominated, occurring on 38 days—a 17-day increase from
the previous year. Additionally, lightning and storms were recorded on
17 days, up from 5 days last year.
Pre-Monsoon (March–May): Extreme weather events were recorded
on 83 days, slightly lower than 2022 (85 days) and the same as 2023.
Heatwaves occurred on 54 days in 2024, nearly double the 28 days in
2023. This increase contributed to a surge in fatalities, with 507 lives
lost, compared to 321 the previous year.
Monsoon (June–September): Extreme weather persisted across all 122
monsoon days, as in 2023. However, deaths increased to 2,716, up from
2,594 in 2023 and 2,431 in 2022.

47
INDIA 2024

VISIBLE CHANGE
The first nine months of 2024 saw a notable increase in the frequency and severity of extreme
weather events across India compared to the same period in 2023. Extreme weather events were
recorded on 255 days in 2024, claiming 3,238 lives, affecting 3.2 million hectares of crop area. In
contrast, the first nine months of 2023 recorded extreme weather on 235 of 273 days, with 2,923
deaths, 1.84 million hectares of crops affected

ON THE RISE
2024 saw the highest number of days with extreme weather and resultant loss and
damage in the past three years

% share of days with Loss and damage

extreme weather events
Human deaths Crop area affected
2022 88 (million hectares) 1.84

2022
2023 86
3.2
2,923
2,755

3,238

1.84
2024 93
2022 2023 2024 2024 2023

JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 2024 Lightning and storm Heavy rain, flood and landslide
Heatwave Coldwave/cold day Cloudburst
Number of days per extreme weather event Cyclone Snowfall

191 167 77 38 14 14

Extreme weather events across country, day-wise 1

30
India
recorded
25 extreme
weather events on
255 of
20
274 days

15

10

0
Jan 2024 Feb 2024 Mar 2024 Apr 2024 May 2024 Jun 2024 Jul 2024 Aug 2024 Sep 2024

48
 INDIA 2024
JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 2023 Lightning and storm Heavy rain, flood and landslide
Heatwave Coldwave/cold day Cloudburst
Number of days per extreme weather event Cyclone Snowfall

176 132 49 21 5
8
Extreme weather events across country, day-wise 1
25

India
20 recorded
extreme
weather events on
15 235 of
273 days

10

0
Jan 2023 Feb 2023 Mar 2023 Apr 2023 May 2023 Jun 2023 Jul 2023 Aug 2023 Sep 2023

JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 2022

Number of days per extreme weather event

159 157 66 30 11

Extreme weather events across country, day-wise 2 2

25
India
recorded
20 extreme
weather events on
241 of
15 273 days

10

0
Jan 2022 Feb 2022 Mar 2022 Apr 2022 May 2022 Jun 2022 Jul 2022 Aug 2022 Sep 2022

Source: Based on India’s database of weather disasters dashboard by CSE-DTE Data Centre. Data sourced from the Disaster Management Division Union
Ministry of Home Affairs, India Meteorological Department and media reports

49
INDIA 2024
CENTRAL INDIA
The region saw a rise in extreme weather events and related losses
% share of days with Loss and damage
extreme weather events
Human deaths Crop area affected
(million hectares) 0.14
2022 73
1,001 2022
887 755
2023 73 2.08
0.14
2024 80
2022 2023 2024 2024 2023

NORTHWEST INDIA
Although extreme weather days have increased, loss and damages have declined
% share of days with Loss and damage
extreme weather events
Human deaths Crop area affected
(million hectares)
0.39
2022 71
2022
1,080
2023 75 735 734 0.04
1.07
2024 78 2024 2023
2022 2023 2024

SOUTH PENINSULA
Human deaths in 2024 exceed the combined total of the past two years
% share of days with Loss and damage
extreme weather events
Human deaths Crop area affected
46 (million hectares)
2022 1.06
0.43
2023 52 762 2022
350 232
2024 61 0.09
2022 2023 2024 2024 2023

EAST AND NORTHEAST INDIA

2024 saw an increase in extreme weather days and resultant crop area affected
% share of days with Loss and damage
extreme weather events
Human deaths Crop area affected
63 (million hectares)
2022 0.26
2022
2023 66 783 782 741
0.65
2024 70 0.05
2022 2023 2024 2024 2023

50
 INDIA 2024
DEEP IMPACT
27 states and Union Territories saw a rise in extreme weather days in 2024, with Karnataka,
Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh each experiencing 40 or more additional days of such events

Number of days with extreme weather events in n 2023 n 2024

Madhya Pradesh 138

176
Uttar Pradesh 113
156
Himachal Pradesh 112
136
Maharashtra 106
142
Assam 102
131
Punjab 102
96
Uttarakhand 94
102
Odisha 89
99
Rajasthan 89
124
Sikkim 88
98
West Bengal 86
83
Bihar 81
88
Chhattisgarh 77
92
Gujarat 69
102
Kerala 67
113
Meghalaya 58
93
Haryana 53
82
Telangana 52
50
Karnataka 47
96
Andhra Pradesh 45
60
Arunachal Pradesh 45
42
Goa 44
54
Jharkhand 44
59
Jammu and Kashmir 38
38
Tripura 30
50
Tamil Nadu 29
67
Puducherry 26
19
Delhi 24
46
Nagaland 19
46
A&N Islands 14
9
Chandigarh 14
38
Ladakh 10
4
Mizoram 10
24
Manipur 6
18
Lakshadweep 1
3
DNHDD* 1

*DNHDD: Dadra Nagar and Daman Diu, A&N Island: Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Source: Based on India’s database of weather disasters dashboard by CSE-
DTE Data Centre. Data sourced from the Disaster Management Division of Union Ministry of Home Affairs, India Meteorological Department and media reports

51
INDIA 2024

MEASURE OF NIGHT TEMPERATURES

WARM NIGHTS
52
 INDIA 2024

I
n 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began
publishing data on warm nights. This reflects an emerging trend
where, instead of cooler nights that bring relief after a day’s heat,
the temperature remains uncomfortably high. IMD classifies a
warm night as one where the maximum temperature has reached 40°C
and the minimum temperature is 4.5°C to 6.4°C above normal. If this
departure exceeds 6.4°C, it qualifies as a “severe warm night,” posing
additional discomfort and health risks.
Nights give the human body a chance to cool down. But when
nights get warmer, people endure heat stress without any ebb. This
combined effect of a warm day and warm night is detrimental to
human health.
Between March and June 2024, some 17 states and Union Territories
recorded significant warm-night events, underscoring the widespread
reach of this phenomenon. Severe warm nights were concentrated
in northern India, where five regions—Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana,
Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh—experienced unseasonably high night
temperatures mid-June. Notably, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Haryana each
recorded four consecutive “severe warm nights” from June 15 to June
18, marking a new extreme as nighttime temperatures failed to drop to
typical levels.
The onset of warm nights was first noted in March 2024, with
Maharashtra and Gujarat reporting uncharacteristically high
minimum temperatures on March 27. This month saw uncomfortable
night temperatures in central India, affecting states like Chhattisgarh
and Madhya Pradesh. As April approached, the warmth spread, with 11
states across IMD’s four climate regions registering 10 uncomfortable
nights. Odisha became the first state to witness severe warm-night
conditions in late April, with minimum temperatures soaring over
6.4°C above normal. This marked the beginning of what would become
a prolonged warm period across regions as nighttime temperatures
reached unprecedented highs.
May 2024 was particularly severe, with 13 states enduring at least 15
warm nights, six of them in the northern region. Rajasthan experienced
the brunt of it, recording 12 warm nights in May, including an eight-day
streak of continuous warm conditions from May 19 to 26. Meanwhile,
Uttar Pradesh endured the longest warm-night stretch, with nine nights
from May 22 to May 30. The persistence of warm nights through May
extended into June, where eight states, especially those in northern
India, continued to grapple with elevated night temperatures. By June
20, rain showers finally brought some relief to Delhi-NCR, breaking a
warm-night spell that had persisted since June 19.

53
INDIA 2024
UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHTS
Across the country, 17 states and UTs experienced warm nights from March to June 2024. Of these,
Odisha, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh recorded “severe warm” nights with
minimum temperatures more than 6.4ºC above normal

Regions Warm night Severe warm night*

Central East and North East Total days with warm and severe warm nights between March
Northwest South Peninsula and June 2024

MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

Chhattisgarh 4
Gujarat 3
Madhya Pradesh 18
Maharashtra 7
Odisha 8
Bihar 7
Jharkhand 2
West Bengal 4
Chandigarh 7
Delhi 10
Haryana 14
Punjab 9
Rajasthan 18
Uttar Pradesh 17
Andhra Pradesh 3
Karnataka 3
Puducherry 1
Note: *Warm nights record a minimum temperature 4-6.4ºC above normal, when the maximum daytime temperature is 40ºC; severe warm nights record
a minimum temperature 4-6.4ºC above normal, when the maximum daytime temperature is 40ºC Source: India Meteorological Department

54
 INDIA 2024

Between June 11 and 19, as Delhi was experiencing sweltering

nights, 192 bodies were recovered from public spaces such as
pavements, in front of residential buildings and parks; 80 per cent
of them were believed to be homeless. The figure is the highest for
the same period in the past five years, says the Centre for Holistic
Development (CHD), a Delhi-based non-profit that has analysed data
from the Zonal Integrated Police Network under the Union Ministry
of Home Affairs. Sunil Kumar Adelia, executive director of CHD,
attributes these deaths to the combined effects of high day- and night-
time temperatures. “Almost everyone living on the streets reported
experiencing sleeplessness,” CHD wrote in a letter to the secretary
general of the National Human Rights Commission. These people, the
letter states, suffer numerous heat-related effects, including heatstroke,
weakness, increased vector-borne diseases, eye ailments, diarrhoea,
rashes, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and infections.
Harshal Salve, additional professor, Centre for Community Medicine
at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, says in case of
a warm night, our exposure to heat gets prolonged. The immediate
impacts can be dehydration, confusion, delirium, eye irritation and heat
stroke. The impacts of chronic exposure is seen three to seven days
later, through increase in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular ailments
and stroke. In 2017, researchers from the UK published a study in
Environmental Epidemiology that analyses impacts of day and night
warming on mortality in Greater London. It links exposure to daytime
heat with heart failure, infectious respiratory diseases and nervous
system ailments, and nighttime heat with stroke and chronic ischemic
diseases. The combined effects of hot days and hot nights pose a
greater mortality risk than hot days followed by cool nights.

NEED FOR AN EASIER METRICS

Though IMD has started issuing warm-night alerts, its definition
is difficult to follow as it does not provide an absolute temperature
threshold. Most other countries have their own temperature threshold
for warm nights, set as per their historical weather pattern and heat
acclimatisation level of the population. European nations define warm
nights as those when the temperature does not fall below 20°C. In
the UK, the threshold varies regionally with London reporting warm
nights if the minimum temperature exceeds 18°C. Threshold level also
varies across the US, where the east coast states consider a minimum
temperature of 27°C as a warm night.

55
INDIA 2024

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

CLIMATE
CHANGE COSTS
56
 INDIA 2024

2
024 has been a defining year for climate science in India. At
least seven major attribution studies released this year reveal
that climate change has not only intensified extreme weather
events but also increased their frequency. From January’s
severe coldwave to scorching heat waves in the pre-monsoon season,
followed by extreme rains and landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district,
the evidence points to a clear climate fingerprint. These findings
come as climate experts and policymakers urge India to strengthen
resilience and adaptive capacities.

CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE CORE OF EXTREME EVENTS

The Sixth Assessment report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) emphasised that extreme event attribution
provides tangible proof of climate change’s impacts. The frequency
and intensity of extreme weather events observed across India in
2024 highlight this reality. According to the World Economic Forum’s
“Global Risks Report 2024”, extreme weather has now risen to the top
of global risks for 2024–2026. The report stresses that these risks will
remain the most pressing global challenges over the next decade,
making the need for climate adaptation more urgent.

BLOW HOT AND COLD

The severe coldwave that swept across northern India in January
this year left Delhi and other regions grappling with prolonged, bone-
chilling temperatures. Attribution studies, including one led by Raju
Attada from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
(IISER), Mohali, attribute this unusual cold to a powerful atmospheric
blocking pattern and an influx of cold, dry air from the Siberian high-
pressure system. The blocking phenomenon trapped the cold air over
India, creating a prolonged period of extreme cold exacerbated by
climate-induced shifts in atmospheric patterns.
India recorded heatwaves on at least 50 days from April to
May, making it the third consecutive year of life-threatening high
temperatures during the pre-monsoon season. Six different attribution
studies this year link human-caused climate change to this intense
heat. A global study released in May confirmed that climate change
played a significant role in the record-breaking temperatures across
Asia, including India. The study, involving experts from Imperial
College London and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, stated

57
INDIA 2024

CLEAR LINK
In 2024, at least seven
January 2024
attribution studies on India
Coldwave in Delhi and northern states
concluded that climate
“Winter atmospheric blocking this year
change intensified extreme
intensified cold waves and prolonged
events and significantly
their persistence from the end of
increased their likelihood December to January.”
Synoptic dynamics of cold waves over north India: Underlying
April 2024 mechanisms of distinct cold wave conditions | Attada, R. et al |
Weather and Climate Extremes| March 2024
Extreme temperature in South Asia,
including India
May 18-20, 2024
“These extreme temperatures are
Heatwave in Western India
now about 45 times more likely and
0.85ºC hotter.” “Human-caused climate change made
Climate change made the deadly heatwaves that hit millions this excessive heat at least five times more
of highly vulnerable people across Asia more frequent and likely, signifying an exceptional climate
extreme | | World Weather Attribution | May 14, 2024 change event.”
Climate change is boosting severe heat in western India | Climate Shift
Index, Climate Central | May 17, 2024
June 16-24, 2024
Heatwave in India
June-August 2024
“Between June 16-24, 2024,
4.97 billion people experienced Extreme temperature in India
extreme heat reaching CSI levels “From June to August this year, India
(Climate Shift Index level) of at recorded its second-hottest period since 1970,
least 3, indicating that climate with over 112 million people enduring at least
change made these temperatures one month of potentially health-threatening
at least three times more likely to heat. More than 20.5 million people faced
occur. This includes 619 million climate change-amplified temperatures for at
people in India” least 60 days during this quarter.”
Global extreme heat in June 2024 strongly linked to People Exposed to Climate Change: June-August 2024 | Climate Central |
climate change | Climate Shift Index, Climate Central | September 18, 2024
June 27, 2024
June-September 2024
August 2024 Climate change drives extreme rains and
Extreme rainfall and landslide in temperatures
Wayanad, Kerala
“The longevity of the monsoon systems has
“The sudden rainfall that triggered increased. Simultaneously weather systems are
landslides in Wayanad on 30 July was now tracking more from Central India, south to
made 10 percent more intense due to their normal position. Despite excess Monsoon
human-induced climate change” rains, rise in global warming has led to a
Landslide triggering rainfall made more intense by human- consistent rise in minimum temperatures.”
induced climate change, devastating highly vulnerable
Monsoon 2024: Climate change drives extreme rains and temperatures |
communities in northern Kerala | World Weather Attribution |
Climate Central | October 20, 2024
August 14, 2024

58
 INDIA 2024

that climate change has made such extreme temperatures about

45 times more likely and nearly 0.85ºC hotter than previous averages.
The persistence of high temperatures affected numerous states,
including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, with increased
humidity exacerbating discomfort. In Northwest and Central India,
the absence of Western Disturbances, coupled with prolonged dry
spells and anticyclones, created an especially intense heat wave
from May 16 to 31. These conditions led to nighttime temperatures
soaring, particularly alarming given the increase in “warm nights”
across Indian cities. According to a June report by Climate Central,
the occurrence of warm nights has increased by 32 per cent in the last
decade due to climate change.
By mid-June, nearly 5 billion people globally were exposed to
extreme heat levels influenced by climate change, with 619 million in
India alone. This study underscores the outsized vulnerability of India’s
population to climate-driven heat events.

SWEPT AWAY
The 2024 monsoon brought with it relentless rains and devastating
floods. Climate Central’s October report concluded that global warming
has altered monsoon behaviour, leading to an increase in heavy
rainfall events and an unprecedented rise in minimum nighttime
temperatures during the monsoon months. Despite the heavy rains,
the anomalous 0.61°C rise in night temperatures is attributed to
ongoing warming trends that have restructured typical weather
patterns, leading monsoon systems to track more centrally and extend
southward from their usual positions.
The devastating landslides in Wayanad on July 30, 2024, serve as
a tragic example of climate-induced changes. According to scientists
from World Weather Attribution (WWA), the rains that triggered
these landslides were 10 per cent more intense due to human-caused
climate change. This added intensity to an already vulnerable region,
underscoring the compounded effects of climate change on both
natural disasters and human safety.
The findings from these attribution studies underscore the
immediate need for climate-resilient policies, infrastructure, and
community preparedness. As extreme weather events become
more frequent and intense, India’s path to mitigating the impacts of
climate change must prioritise climate adaptation measures, robust
infrastructure, and early-warning systems for extreme weather events.

59
 ABOUT THE REPORT
All Indian states are significantly climate vulnerable
and the gap between the least vulnerable state
(Maharashtra) and the most vulnerable state
(Jharkhand) is small, as per the Centre’s “Climate
Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in
India Using a Common Framework 2019-20”.
Yet robust data on extreme weather events, which are
increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate
change, is not available publicly. This happens because
government agencies use different definitions and data
collection sources, which obscures the bigger picture.
This report is an attempt to build an evidence base on
the frequency and expanding geography of extreme
weather events in India. It provides season-by-season,
month-by-month, and region-by-region analyses of
extreme weather events and the loss and damage they
caused in the first nine months of 2024.

Scan to access India’s Atlas on Weather Disasters

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