In 2025, India experienced another year of escalating climate challenges, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting it as the eighth warmest year since 1901. The decade spanning 2016-2025 has emerged as the warmest on record for the nation, underscoring a significant long-term warming trend. This warming trend has been accompanied by a rise in extreme weather events across the country, resulting in a substantial loss of life and widespread damage.
The IMD's data reveals that the all-India annual mean land surface air temperature in 2025 was 0.28 degrees Celsius higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020. While 2025 was not the warmest year on record, it continues the trend of rising temperatures, with 2024 holding the unfortunate title of the warmest year with temperatures 0.65 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. The country experienced extreme weather on 331 out of 334 days between January and November 2025. These events included heatwaves, cold waves, lightning, storms, cyclones, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides.
These extreme events took a heavy toll, claiming 2,763 lives in 2025. Andhra Pradesh reported the highest number of deaths at 608, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 537 fatalities and Jharkhand with 478. In addition to the loss of life, extreme weather events caused extensive damage to property and agriculture. Maharashtra saw the largest area of cropped land affected, at 8.4 million hectares, followed by Gujarat with 4.4 million hectares and Karnataka with 2.75 million hectares.
Several factors contributed to the rise in extreme weather events in 2025. A key factor was the absence of western disturbances during December, which typically bring rain and thunderstorms to northwestern and central India. The IMD attributed this change in pattern to climate change. Additionally, the country experienced a prolonged heatwave in February, which was the hottest and driest in 125 years.
The impact of these weather events was felt across various sectors. Agriculture suffered significant losses due to floods and droughts. Infrastructure was also severely damaged, disrupting transportation and communication networks. The health sector faced increased pressure due to heatstroke cases and waterborne diseases.
Looking ahead, the IMD has forecast mixed rainfall for the January to March 2026 period, with southern and central India expected to receive good rainfall, while northwest India is likely to experience below-normal showers. The department has also warned of more frequent cold-wave conditions in the coming weeks, with below-average minimum and maximum temperatures expected across large parts of the country.
The rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India underscore the urgent need for climate action. Mitigation efforts, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, are crucial to slowing down the pace of climate change. Adaptation measures, such as improving disaster preparedness and building climate-resilient infrastructure, are also essential to minimize the impact of extreme weather events on communities and the economy.
