NEWS – World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) published the State of the Climate in Asia, 2023, report

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hydrometeorological Hazards:
  • In 2023, Asia experienced 79 events linked to hydrometeorological hazards, primarily floods and storms, affecting over nine million people and causing over 2,000 direct deaths.
  • Floods and storms constituted 80% of these events, emphasizing the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather.
• Temperature Trends:
  • Asia’s average annual surface temperature in 2023 was 1.87°C above the 1961–1990 average and 0.91°C above the 1991–2020 average.
  • The rate of warming in Asia is accelerating, with recent decades showing double the warming trend compared to earlier periods, except for Europe.
• Glacial Mass Loss:
  • In the High Mountain Asia (HMA) region, 20 out of 22 observed glaciers experienced continued mass loss in 2022-2023 due to record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions.
  • A significant mass losses in four reference glaciers in the HMA region over the past 40 years, especially since the mid-1990s was noticed
• Precipitation Patterns:
  • Below-normal rainfall was noted in parts of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and certain regions of India during 2023.
  • Excess rainfall was observed in specific areas, such as the lower course of the Indus River (Pakistan) and the Tenasserim Range (Myanmar).
• Sea Surface Temperature (SST):
  • The North-west Pacific Ocean experienced the warmest sea surface temperature anomalies on record in 2023.
  • Areas like the North-Western Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea, and seas east of Japan witnessed strong warming of the upper ocean, exceeding three times the global average.