2023 Annual Climate Summary

On April 1, 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) released the  Annual Climate Summary 2023.

Highlights of the Summary:

The annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over India during 2023 was +0.65°C above the long-term average (Period 1981-2010). The year 2023 was the 2nd warmest year on record since nationwide records commenced in 1901. However, this is lower than the highest warming observed over India during 2016 (anomaly of +0.71°C).

The all India mean temperatures during the pre-monsoon (March to May) season was normal with an anomaly of +0.06°C while during other seasons, it was above normal for winter (January to February) season (anomaly of +0.83°C), monsoon (June to September) season (anomaly of +0.74°C) and post-monsoon (October to December) season (anomaly of +1.0°C).

Heat wave conditions were observed over most parts of central, northwest India and East & Northeast India during the months of April and June.

The 2023 annual rainfall over the country as a whole was 95% of its Long Period Average (LPA) value for the period 1971-2020. The monsoon season rainfall over the country as a whole was 95% of its LPA. The seasonal rainfall during the Northeast monsoon season (October – December) over the NE Monsoon core region of the south peninsula was 94% of its LPA.

In 2023, there were 6 cyclones formed over the north Indian Ocean. Of these, 3 were Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storms (“MOCHA”, “BIPARJOY” & “TEJ”), two were Severe Cyclonic Storms (“MICHAUNG” and MIDHILI), and one was Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (“HAMOON”). Of these, 4 cyclones, MOCHA, HAMOON, MIDHILI, and MICHAUNG, formed over the Bay of Bengal. Two cyclones, BIPARJOY and TEJ, formed over Arabian Sea.

Various parts of the country also experienced extreme weather events like extremely heavy rainfall, floods, landslide, lightning, thunderstorm, heat wave, snowfall, cold wave, hailstorm etc. which caused about 2450 deaths, out of which more than 1330 were due to lightning and thunderstorms.