Whalesbook
India concluded 2025 as its eighth warmest year on record, with a notable surge in night-time temperatures exacerbating widespread extreme weather events. The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) annual summary revealed a national average temperature 0.28 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, defining a year where heat stress and rainfall extremes spanned across all seasons.
Unprecedented Heat and Warm Nights
The year's heat profile was shaped not just by daytime highs, but by a significant rise in minimum temperatures. February 2025 stood out as the hottest on record nationally, recording an average temperature anomaly of +1.36°C. This included the nation's first heatwave occurring on February 25 in Goa and Maharashtra, an event previously unseen in the IMD-defined winter season.
Seasonal Rainfall Extremes and Disasters
Despite a dry January, pre-monsoon rainfall in May reached its highest level since 1901, triggering early floods and landslides. The monsoon season saw concentrated heavy rainfall in Northwest India, causing severe floods in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Central and southern India also reported surplus rainfall, while the East and Northeast faced deficits.
The increase in minimum, or night-time, temperatures is a critical factor amplifying risks. These warmer nights prolong heat stress and contribute to instability beyond typical summer months, affecting conditions from winter through the post-monsoon period. Ten of India's fifteen warmest years have occurred since 2011, with the decade 2016-2025 being the warmest on record.
Economic Fallout from Climate Extremes
The culmination of these climate extremes resulted in significant economic disruption. Widespread floods and landslides devastated infrastructure, particularly in flood-affected regions like Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, leading to substantial recovery costs. Agriculture, a cornerstone of the Indian economy, faced immense pressure from unseasonal rains, heatwaves, and subsequent flooding, impacting crop yields and food security.
Shifting Hazard Landscape
The year's extreme weather events led to at least 2,760 deaths nationwide. For the first time, rain-related disasters including floods and landslides accounted for nearly half of these fatalities, surpassing lightning strikes as the leading weather-related killer. This shift highlights the escalating threat of intensifying rainfall extremes and their profound impact on human life and economic stability.
Persistent Post-Monsoon Threats
Even the post-monsoon season (October-December) brought challenges, with earlier cold waves and widespread temperature variability. Deadly cyclones and localized intense rainfall events killed at least 300 people, underscoring the persistent nature of extreme weather impacts throughout the year.