State of Climate in Asia 2024 Report, Key Highlights

Context: Asia is warming at nearly twice the global average, as per the WMO’s State of Climate in Asia 2024 report.

State of Climate in Asia 2024 Report

• Published by: World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
• Objective: To assess and present the current state of climate conditions and trends across Asia.

Key Findings of the Report

Trends Across Asia

• Average temperature in 2024: +1.04°C above the 1991–2020 baseline — warmest or second-warmest year on record.
• Warming trend (1991–2024) is almost double the rate seen from 1961–1990.
• Heatwaves lasted from April to November in East Asia.
  • Japan matched its hottest summer, with +1.76°C above normal.
  • Korea, China, and Russia recorded multiple monthly temperature records.

India-Specific Highlights

• Extreme heat: Temperatures neared 50°C in Uttar Pradesh and nearby regions.
• Monsoon 2024:
  • Overall normal (108% of 1971–2020 average).
  • Above normal rainfall in South Asia with higher intensity.
• Kerala (Wayanad): Intense rainfall caused landslides, resulting in 350+ deaths.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) & Sea Level Rise

• SSTs in Asia: Highest ever recorded.
• SST warming rate in Asia: 24°C/decade (nearly 2× global rate of 0.13°C/decade).
• Sea level rise on Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts exceeded global averages.
• Areas with notable ocean warming: Northern Arabian Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and parts of the Pacific.
• Marine heatwaves (extreme intensity): Largest area affected since 1993.
  • Most severe in the northern Indian Ocean, the East China Sea, Yellow Sea.

Glacier Loss

• 23 out of 24 glaciers in the Central Himalayas and the Tian Shan lost mass.
• Increased risks:
  • Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
  • Landslides
  • Threats to water security
• GLOFs: Sudden discharge of water from glacial lakes, often dammed by moraines or glacier ice.

Cyclonic Activity

Four tropical cyclones formed over the North Indian Ocean:

• Bay of Bengal: Cyclones Remal, Dana, Fengal
• Arabian Sea: Cyclone Asna (only the 4th such event since 1891)
  • Cyclone Remal: Impacted in Bangladesh & West Bengal (May 2024)
  • Cyclone Asna: Hit Oman; generated waves up to 5 meters
  • Cyclone Fengal: Impacted Sri Lanka with rains and landslides

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