Gangtok Records Hottest September Since 1969
IMD Head Gopinath Raha Confirms Temperature Rise
Gangtok, Sikkim, recorded a temperature of 26.8 degrees Celsius on September 23, the highest for the month since 1998. According to Gopinath Raha, head of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Gangtok, this is the hottest September since 1969, when temperature records began in the state.
Raha stated, “We have data since 1969 with us. If we compare until 2024, then yes, this is the hottest September in recorded history of the state.” He added that temperatures throughout the month, especially in the last week, have risen by 3 to 6 degrees Celsius compared to what is normally observed in September. The mean temperature this month is 24 degrees Celsius, a record high for September.
In Gangtok, there have been 11 days this September when the temperature exceeded 25 degrees Celsius. From September 6 to 13, temperatures continuously surpassed 24 degrees Celsius, and from September 18 to 23, the same trend was observed. Tadong, located 1,500 feet downhill from Gangtok, recorded 33.1 degrees Celsius on September 21, marking its highest September temperature. Darjeeling also experienced unusually high temperatures, with the town recording 28.2 degrees Celsius on September 21.
Relief from the heat is expected from September 24, with a drop in temperatures of a few degrees and the possibility of rain and thunderstorms in some areas due to a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon season in Sikkim begins around late May and typically lasts until September 30, occasionally extending until mid-October. Raha added, “In the last few years, June has received heavy rainfall. Even this year, the entire month had rainfall. July had 18 percent more rainfall than normal. In the first two months of the monsoon, there was 66 percent more rainfall than normal. However, after July, the rainfall has been running in deficit, with only a 9 percent increase this year compared to normal.”
Sikkim also experiences non-monsoonal rainfall due to western disturbances during the dry season, but even these western disturbances are now shifting their course toward the northern part of the hemisphere.
Doubts Revealed
Gangtok -: Gangtok is the capital city of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located in the northeastern part of India.
IMD -: IMD stands for India Meteorological Department. It is the government agency responsible for weather forecasting and monitoring in India.
Gopinath Raha -: Gopinath Raha is the head of the IMD office in Gangtok. He is responsible for monitoring and reporting weather conditions in the region.
26.8°C -: 26.8°C is a temperature measurement. It means 26.8 degrees Celsius, which is a way to measure how hot or cold it is.
1969 -: 1969 is a year. It means that the last time it was this hot in September in Gangtok was 54 years ago.
Tadong -: Tadong is a town near Gangtok in the state of Sikkim. It also experienced very high temperatures.
Darjeeling -: Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal, famous for its tea. It also recorded high temperatures.
Cyclonic circulation -: Cyclonic circulation is a weather pattern where winds rotate around a low-pressure area. It can bring rain and thunderstorms.
Bay of Bengal -: The Bay of Bengal is a large body of water to the east of India. Weather systems here can affect the climate in nearby regions.