August 2026 Was India's Warmest in 125 Years: Here's Why

India recorded its warmest August since temperature records began in 1901, with the country’s average mean temperature reaching 28.01°C. The figure was around 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 normal, making the month the hottest August in the country’s 125-year temperature record. The record is notable because August is traditionally one of India’s wettest monsoon months, when widespread cloud cover and rainfall generally help keep temperatures lower. However, despite several episodes of intense monsoon rain across different parts of the country, the overall temperature pattern remained unusually warm.

The biggest factor behind the record was not exceptionally high daytime temperatures alone but unusually warm conditions after sunset. India’s average minimum temperature during August was 24.36°C, which was 0.68°C above the normal level and the highest average nighttime temperature recorded for August since 1901. By comparison, the country’s average maximum temperature stood at 31.66°C, ranking as the fourth-highest for the month. The figures show how persistent warmth during nighttime hours can significantly raise the overall monthly average even when daytime temperatures do not consistently break records.

The unusually warm nights were particularly prominent across East and Northeast India, where the average minimum temperature reached its highest August level on record. South Peninsular India also recorded its second-highest mean temperature for August, while Northwest India experienced its fifth-highest mean temperature for the month. When temperatures remain elevated overnight, the land and buildings have less opportunity to lose heat before the next day begins. This can contribute to a cycle of persistent warmth, particularly in urban areas where concrete structures, roads and other surfaces can retain heat.

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Rainfall patterns also played an important role in shaping August’s temperatures. While several parts of India witnessed heavy spells of monsoon rain, rainfall was not evenly distributed across the country. Below-normal rainfall was observed over many areas, while above-normal temperatures affected most regions. The heavier rainfall that did occur was concentrated largely over eastern, east-central and northwestern parts of the country and was often associated with low-pressure systems, depressions and interactions with western disturbances. As a result, intense rainfall in some regions did not translate into consistently cooler conditions across the country as a whole.

Another factor being monitored was the strengthening El Niño event over the Pacific Ocean. Sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific were significantly above normal, with the phenomenon expected to influence rainfall and temperature patterns across different parts of the world. El Niño can affect the Indian monsoon by altering atmospheric circulation and changing the distribution and intensity of rainfall. In this case, its influence occurred alongside uneven monsoon activity and contributed to a broader weather pattern in which large parts of India experienced warmer-than-normal conditions.

The record warmth recorded during August adds to growing concerns about changes in India’s temperature patterns, particularly the rise in nighttime temperatures. A warmer night can have significant consequences because it reduces the period during which people, buildings and ecosystems can recover from daytime heat. The latest figures also demonstrate that heavy rainfall and high temperatures can occur within the same monsoon season, depending on how weather systems are distributed geographically. With August now setting a new temperature record for the period since 1901, the unusually warm conditions highlight the increasingly complex relationship between monsoon rainfall, atmospheric circulation and rising temperatures across India.

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