Asia Suffers Devastating Consequences of Rising Temperatures

Strategic Insights -

The region of Asia experienced extreme weather conditions in 2024, leading to a significant number of deaths due to cyclones, rain-triggered landslides, heatwaves, and floods. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Asia's average temperature was 1.04 degrees Celsius above the last 30-year average, making it the continent's warmest to second-warmest year on record.

The report highlights the alarming rate of warming in Asia, with a trend of nearly double that of the global average between 1991 and 2024. This high rate of warming manifested through a range of extreme weather events, including 29 tropical cyclones, prolonged and intense heatwaves, and extreme rainfall events.

Key Takeaways:

  • 29 tropical cyclones affected Asia in 2024, causing thousands of deaths and substantial losses to local communities and economies.
  • Japan experienced its warmest year on record, exceeding the previous record set in 2023, with intense land heatwaves and marine heatwaves observed across the region.
  • India saw deadly heatwaves, with over 450 deaths reported, and lightning events claiming around 1,300 lives.
  • The northern Indian Ocean faced extremely severe marine heatwaves, impacting an area of nearly 15 million square kilometres.
  • Tropical cyclones Remal, Fengal, Dana, and Asna made landfall in the Indian sub-continent, causing significant damage and loss of life.
  • Above-normal rainfall was observed in the Arabian desert, Balochistan, parts of Myanmar, certain islands in Japan, and the Siberian plains, with very heavy rainfall in western Asia causing daily rainfall to exceed the long-term annual average rainfall.
  • Glaciers in the High Mountain Asia region continued to lose mass, with 23 out of 24 glaciers recording negative mass balance since measurements began in 1959.

Statistics:

  • 1,302 people killed due to lightning events in India.
  • 450 deaths reported in India due to heatwaves.
  • 90 people killed due to tropical cyclones that made landfall in the Indian sub-continent.
  • Over 350 people killed in the rain-triggered landslide in Kerala's Wayanad district, India.
  • Urumqi Glacier No. 1 recorded its most negative mass balance since measurements began in 1959.
  • 15 million square kilometers impacted by marine heatwaves in the northern Indian Ocean.
  • 162.88 mm rainfall recorded at the Dubai airport in 36 hours on 15 and 16 April.

Sources:

  • State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with regional and international meteorological organisations