Climate change in India: temperatures not recorded since 1901

In March, record temperatures were recorded even in the Himalayas (our illustration photo).

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1 min

New illustration of climate change: the month of March which is ending in India is the hottest recorded for 122 years.

Record temperatures were recorded as far as the Himalayas while the rains were particularly rare.

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With our correspondent in India,

Côme Bastin

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the months of March 2020 and 2021 had already been exceptionally hot.

This year is breaking a new record with temperatures not recorded since 1901. The monthly average for March 2022 stands at 33.1° Celsius, beating the absolute record of 2010. The country has also seen its precipitation drop by 71% compared to than the average established in the last century.

March heat

The heat of March was particularly strong in the city of Bombay where the thermometer rose to more than 40 degrees during this month of March, like five times in the last decade.

In the usually cooler Himalayan regions, recorded temperatures were 7 to 11 degrees above normal.

It was up to 35° in the big city of Dharamasala, located 1,500 meters above sea level.

Temperatures will continue to rise 

Temperatures are expected to continue to rise until the rainy season.

It is now the capital, New Delhi, which will suffer a heat wave in the coming days.

According to the chief of operations of the Meteorological Department, this scorching month of March is to be put without hesitation on the account of climate change.  

To read also: Auroville, the utopian city of India, fights against a deforestation project

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