India Faces Regional and Seasonal Warming Trends, IMD Data Reveals
India Faces Regional and Seasonal Warming Trends, IMD Data Reveals
IN · Published Sep 2, 2026
India is experiencing significant warming trends, with variations across regions and seasons, according to an analysis of daily gridded temperature data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The study, which compares temperature anomalies from 2015-2025 against the 1991-2020 climatological baseline, highlights that winters are becoming uniformly warmer across the country, with north-western states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab showing the highest anomalies of up to +1.1°C.

Impact & Risks

The warming trends have significant implications for agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and human health. Warmer winters could affect rabi crops by increasing water stress and altering irrigation needs. The pronounced warming in the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons may exacerbate heat stress, reduce agricultural yields, and impact water availability. The uneven warming during the pre-monsoon season could lead to localised heatwaves, particularly in western India, while cooler pockets in central and southern regions may experience different climate-related challenges. The warming of traditionally cooler regions, such as the western Himalayas, could disrupt local ecosystems and tourism.

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