East, North-East India record 8th hottest May since 1901

June 5, 2023 36 Views No Comment

3rd lowest rainfall since 1901

Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 5

The East and North-East India experienced the 8th hottest May since record-keeping began in 1901, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The climate summary for May 2023 released by the IMD on June 2 revealed that the average maximum temperature for the month was 34.33 degree Celsius (ºC), which was 1.30 ºC higher than the normal average temperature of 33.03 ºC.

This was the eighth highest temperature recorded in the region for the month of May from 1901-2023, as per the national weather forecasting agency calculation. The climatological data based on the period of 1981 to 2010 are used to calculate the average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature.

However, the average minimum temperature in May 2023 for the region was 22.61 ºC, a slight decrease of 0.03 ºC compared to the normal temperature of 24.32 ºC

Across India as a whole, the average maximum temperature for May 2023 was 35.03 ºC, deviating by 0.14 ºC from the normal average of 35.17 ºC. Similarly, the average minimum temperature for May was 23.92 ºC, which was 0.40 ºC lower than the usual average of 24.32 ºC.

Deficient rainfall
In addition to the rising temperatures, the East & North-East region of India also experienced deficient rainfall, with only 111.3 mm recorded, marking the third lowest amount since 1901.

The normal rainfall for May in this region, based on the IMD’s Long Period Average (LPA) data from 1971-2020, is 189.9 mm.

The rainfall in 2023 was a departure of -41.0% from the LPA. The two lowest rainfall amounts recorded in May in previous years were 108.1 mm in 1907 and 109.6 mm in 2012.

The situation was different for the country as a whole, as it received an all-India average rainfall of 67.5 mm in May 2023, which was 10% higher than the LPA of 61.4 mm.

Apart from the East & North-East region, the other homogeneous regions – Northwest India, Central India, and South Peninsula – received above-normal rainfall, according to IMD data.

As per the monthly rainfall information from May 1-31 available on IMD’s website, Nagaland too recorded ‘deficient’ rainfall at 118.8 mm, down 33% from normal average of 176.30 mm.

Among the states in the North-East, only Sikkim received normal rainfall, while Manipur and Tripura experienced a ‘large deficient’ rainfall, with departures from the LPA ranging from -99% to -66%.

Additionally, citing media reports, the IMD stated that in May 2023, 96 people died, over 115 people were injured, more than 10 people went missing, and more than 45 livestock perished due to various weather events.