Warmest Winter in India in Terms of Minimum Temperatures Since 1901, Says IMD

New Delhi, March 2: January and February were the third and second warmest winter months in 121 years in terms of mean and minimum temperatures respectively, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) report said on Tuesday.

Both the minimum and mean temperatures in February for north-west India were the warmest since 1901, the report added.

In terms of mean temperature in January-February, 2016 recorded 21.80 degree Celsius, followed by 21.58 degree Celsius in 2009 and 21.43 degree Celsius in 2021. The other two years with an all-India mean temperatures for the two months in that range were 2006 (21.39 degree C) and 2017 (21.37 degree C).

In terms of minimum temperature the two months in 2021 recorded 15.39 degrees Celsius. The other four years with the warmest January-February since 1901 are: 2016 (15.53 degrees C), 2009 (15.30 degrees C), 1926 (15.29 degrees C), 1912 (15.28 degrees C).

In its report for January released last month, the IMD had said the minimum temperature recorded in the country during the month was the warmest for the month in 62 years.

Spatial temperature patterns over India show average monthly maximum temperatures in January were below normal by two to four degrees Celsius across the Indo-Gangetic plain and pockets over south Punjab and north Haryana at its west, and over Bihar in the east had significantly below normal temperatures with it being three to four degrees Celsius lower than normal.

South India was particularly warm. The region was the warmest in January in 121 years with 22.33 degrees Celsius, followed by 22.14 degrees Celsius in 1919 and 21.93 degrees Celsius in 2020 as the second and third warmest months.

Central India was the warmest (14.82 degrees Celsius) in the last 38 years after 1982 (14.92 degrees Celsius) while 1958 with 15.06 degrees Celsius was the warmest in the 1901-2021 period.

Maximum temperatures in January were below normal, the IMD said.

An analysis between the years 1901 and 2021 showed that the all-India average minimum temperature in January 2021 was 14.78 degrees Celsius. The January of 1958 recorded a similar monthly minimum temperature.

The January of 1919 recorded 15 degrees Celsius and it remains the warmest January so far.

“So January 2021 has also become the warmest in 62 years after 1958,” the IMD said.

In its summer forecast for March-May, day temperatures are likely to be above normal in the north, north-east, parts of east and west India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Monday in its summer forecast for March to May.

However, it has forecast a likelihood of below normal temperatures in south and adjoining central India.