Shimla shivers in unusual heat: January smashes temperature records
Photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, updated Jan 5,
Shimla, the “Queen of Hills,” is witnessing an unprecedented surge in temperatures, reshaping its typically chilly January narrative. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded its highest-ever January maximum temperature on, January 4, 2025, soaring to an astonishing 23.1°C. This surpasses the previous record of 22°C, set just a day before on January 3.
On Jan 4, neighboring Solan mirrored this unsettling trend, hitting 29°C—a new January peak for the town. The previous record, 27.5°C, was set on January 26, 2007.
On January 3 Shimla also experienced its highest-ever maximum temperature for the winter season, reaching 21.6°C. This eclipsed the earlier mark of 21.4°C, recorded on January 30, 2006. Adding to the unusual weather, Shimla’s minimum temperature on January 3 stood at 11.5°C, the highest since 2009, further underscoring the warming anomaly.
Also read:Shimla registers highest winter temperature ever, breaking records
This trend isn’t confined to the New Year. December 2024 offered its own share of surprises, with Shimla recording 21°C on December 16, narrowly missing the 2017 December record of 21.3°C.
The IMD has labeled these extreme weather patterns as climate anomalies, citing them as evidence of a broader warming trend gripping the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Experts warn that such temperature spikes, particularly during traditionally colder months, could have profound long-term implications, including accelerated glacial melt, biodiversity loss, and disruptions to water availability in the region.
Pertinent to mention that these record-breaking temperatures point to a larger pattern of global and regional warming, driven by climate change. As snowfall becomes increasingly scarce and the winter chill retreats, Shimla’s identity as a winter wonderland is perhaps, under threat. The once-frosty January air now carries an unfamiliar warmth, leaving residents and visitors speculating the impacts of a changing climate.
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