The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that August was not only the driest month since 1901 but also the hottest month ever recorded in India. Four out of the five hottest August mean temperatures were recorded in the last seven years, indicating a rise in extreme weather events as a result of climate change.
A bit of relief is, however, expected in September as the monsoon rainfall activity in the month is going to be ‘normal’ in the country as a whole. But the overall seasonal (June-Sept) rainfall is likely to be ‘below normal’ due to the huge deficit (36%) in August. “Overall, the monsoon season (June-Sept) in the country as a whole is not going to be deficient,” said IMD chief M Mohapatra.
According to Mohapatra, the overall deficit at the conclusion of the four-month season might not be more than 10%. As a result, even if the cumulative monsoon rainfall (June 1-August 31) has already reached a 10% deficit, 2023 won't wind up being a drought year like 2014 and 2015.
According to the IMD's records, the nation saw its highest-ever mean temperature in August (since 1901, when scientific record keeping of weather parameters began), which was 28.4 degrees Celsius and 0.84 degrees Celsius above the average mean temperature. The month saw both the second-highest/ lowest temperature at night and the highest average day temperature since 1901.