Warmest December in 122 years for India

According to IMD data released on Wednesday, India had its warmest December in recorded history in 2022, primarily due to above-normal temperatures in the east, northeast, and parts of central India.

Even though parts of north India were hit hard by a severe cold wave on some days, India's mean temperature for the month was still the highest it had been in 122 years.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) data revealed that the mean December temperature increased to 21.49oC last year, surpassing the previous record of 21.46oC set in December 2008. The country's average nighttime temperature was also the second highest for the month in India's recorded history, at 15.65oC, which was slightly lower than the highest ever for December in 2008 (15.69oC). The average maximum temperature in India in December 2022 was also the second highest for the month since 1901. The highest temperature was in December 2016 at 27.75oC. According to the data, India had its warmest December nights in 14 years last month.

"The main reason for such highs was the above-normal temperatures in east and northeast India, as well as partly central India, in December 2022," Rajendra Jenamani, a scientist at the National Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD, informed TOI. The maximum and mean December 2022 temperatures in India's east and northeast were the highest since 1901."

The mean temperature in central India in December 2017 was the highest ever recorded in India. According to Jenamani, December 2022 also saw the appearance of additional systems, such as cyclone Mandous, depressions, and systems that pumped moisture into parts of Maharashtra and the south peninsula of India. December was quite warm in Maharashtra. "From December 1 through December 20, positive minimum temperature departures (as high as +7oC) were observed in larger parts of India, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana," he stated.

During the latter part of December 2022, temperatures in Maharashtra were also impacted by the easterly wave, which was predominant in parts of India's south peninsula. During that time, clouding could be seen as far north as the Konkan and even as far south as central India, which led to a warming trend in those areas. Additionally, "cold conditions began late in December of last year in India," Jenamani stated.

"December witnessed the formation of cyclone Mandous and other systems that caused clouding in parts of peninsular India, even up to parts of central India," D S Pai, director of the Institute of Climate Change Studies in Kerala, told TOI. This trend was aided by the fact that the month's western disturbance activity was also weak and sparse."