The year 2008 is coming to an end with its place among the 10 hottest years since 1850. The winter chill that is normal at this time of the year is yet to set in.
NEW DELHI: The year 2008 is coming to an end with its place among the 10 hottest years since 1850. The winter chill that is normal at this time of the year is yet to set in and even the next quarter from January to March is likely to be warmer than usual.
“The temperatures are higher than usual this year. We are not sure if it will grow any colder soon,” said an officer at meteorological department in Delhi.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) website, no significant change in minimum temperature is expected in the first half of the coming week. A fall in
minimum temperature could happen thereafter.
In Delhi, statistics comparing previous winters when minimum temperatures would dip to around 6 degrees Celsius at this time of the year also shows December was unusually warm this time. The coldest December night till date was recorded way back in 1945, when December 26 registered a record low minimum temperature of 1.1 degree Celsius. The temperature has rarely dipped below the seven degree Celsius mark in 2008.
The year was marked by weather extremes and the second-lowest level of arctic ice cover according to data compiled by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The global combined sea-surface and land-surface air temperature in 2008 is currently estimated at 0.31°C/0.56°F above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.2°F.
The Arctic Sea ice extension dropped to its second-lowest level during the melting season since satellite measurements began in 1979, reports WMO. Climate extremes, including devastating floods, severe and persistent droughts, snowstorms, heat waves and cold spells, were recorded in many parts of the world. In South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Vietnam, heavy monsoon rains and torrential downpours produced flash floods, killing more than 2,600 people, and displacing about one crore people in India.
A South Korea-based climate centre also said the warm climes are expected to continue through January 2009. Indian region may experience above normal temperatures, with slightly more than normal rainfall in its southernmost region.
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