This July was 6th warmest since 1901, says IMD

NEW DELHI: July 2021 was the sixth warmest July on record in India since 1901 with a mean temperature of 28.52 degrees Celsius — 0.55 degrees above normal — according to the climatological data maintained by India Meteorological Department, Pune.

It was the third warmest July when minimum temperatures are considered and eighth warmest in terms of maximum temperatures. The mean temperature is calculated as the average of maximum and minimum temperatures for the month.

This July was marked by extremely warm nights almost all over the country, except peninsular India which recorded above-normal rains in July. Climatological data between 1901 and now also indicates that four of the five warmest Julys on record have been in the past decade, indicating a rising trend in temperatures in recent years.

There was a 7% rain deficiency in July over the country with a 26% deficiency over east and northeast India, 7% deficiency over northwest and central India, but 27% excess rain over peninsular India. The monsoon covered most of the country by June 19 except parts of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. After that, the monsoon entered a “break” phase till July 11. OP Sreejith, head, climate monitoring and prediction group, IMD Pune, said high minimum and maximum temperatures in July are linked to deficient rain and a long dry spell.

The warmest July recorded was in 2019, logging a mean temperature of 28.65 degrees Celsius, 0.68 degrees above normal; the second warmest was in 2015 at 28.63 degrees Celsius; the third was in 1987 at 28.61 degrees C; then in 2014 and 2020.

In terms of minimum temperature, it was the third warmest with a minimum temperature of 24.88 degrees C, 0.56 degrees above normal. The highest was recorded in 2019 at 24.91 degrees C. The average maximum temperature this July was 32.16 degrees Celsius, 0.54 degrees above normal and the eighth warmest on record. The highest July average maximum was recorded in 1987 at 32.53 degrees C, 0.91 degrees above normal.

“There were heatwave conditions over many parts of northwest India early in July. The minimum temperature was high... Heatwave conditions were reported from Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi-NCR. Rain was less due to break monsoon, so temperatures soared,” saidMahesh Palawat, vice president, climate change and meteorology, Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting company.

PTI A farmer sows seeds in scorching heat, in Chikmagalur.