Though 2020 was the eighth warmest year India recorded in the last 121 years, the weather of Nagpur city last year was ‘pleasant’. According to a statement issued by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the annual mean land surface air temperature averaged in 2020 was 0.29 degree Celsius above normal for the period average considered between 1981-2010. However, it was much lower than 2016 (0.71 degree above normal).

 

This made 2020 the warmest-ever year the country has recorded since 1901. As far as Nagpur is concerned, meteorologists believe that the maximum temperature during summer has reduced in the last few years. The highest maximum temperature recorded in 2020 in Nagpur was 47 degree Celsius. But, it was recorded only on one day. While in the last few years, Nagpur recorded 47 degree Celsius temperature for 2-3 days during summer. Maximum temperature of 46 degree Celsius was recorded for not more than one week, and 45 degree Celsius mark was recorded for 15-20 days. In 2020, the summer of Nagpur was a bit ‘tolerable’ as compared to past several years. On most of the days during May-June last year, city recorded maximum temperature 44 and 45 degree Celsius. However, a decade ago, the summer in Nagpur was hotter than now, meteorologists added.

 

“The summer in Vidarbha and Nagpur in last couple of years was ‘cool’ as compared to previous years. COVID-19 lockdown in the city in 2020 reduced pollution, which helped in cooling down the atmosphere,” said M L Sahu, Deputy Director General, IMD, Nagpur. Similarly, the winter in Nagpur in last few years experienced seesaw trend due to atmospheric disturbances in Central India. In 2018, Nagpur experienced the lowest-ever minimum temperature of 3.5 degree Celsius while in 2019 it recorded 5.3 degree Celsius. However, the temperature in winter of 2020 was ‘above normal’. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was 8.2 degree Celsius. Good Southwest Monsoon in 2019 and 2020 also cooled down the temperature in the region.

 

However, the winter of 2020 was a bit ‘warmer’ as the minimum temperature recorded was above normal, Sahu added. The five warmest years on record were 2016 (+0.71 degree Celsius), 2009 (+0.55 degree Celsius), 2017 (+0.541 degree Celsius), 2010 (+0.539 degree Celsius), and 2015 (+0.42 degree Celsius). As per the IMD statement, 12 out of 15 warmest years were recorded during the recent 15 years -- from 2006 to 2020. The past two decades -- 2001-10 and 2011-20 -- were also the warmest decades on record with anomalies of 0.23 degree Celsius and 0.34 degree Celsius respectively. During this season, among the four broad geographical regions of the country -- Central, South Peninsular, East, and Northeast -- received seasonal rainfall of 115 per cent, 129 per cent, and 106 per cent of its LPA respectively, while Northwest India received seasonal rainfall of 84 per cent of its LPA.