State of the Climate in Asia 2024 – ICIMOD response to WMO flagship report

The mean trends in decadal temperature rise as seen for four periods across major regions. After Europe, Asia has had the second biggest jump in temperature trends, warming at twice the global average. Source: WMO

• Asia is warming at twice the global average, states the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in report issued today
• Continent ‘hit hard by rising temperatures and extreme weather’, states United Nations’ authority on climate, weather, and water
• Floods in Asia in 2024 were some of the most severe precipitation-related events since records began in 1949.
• Weather extremes, from prolonged heatwaves, and drought, to rain – responsible for “havoc”, “heavy casualties”, “destruction” and “heavy economic and agricultural losses” across the continent, WMO states
• 4.8 million people affected by drought in China in 2024, Myanmar set a new temperature record of 48.2ºC, praise for Nepal’s coordinated response to record-breaking rainfall in September, Urumqi Glacier No.1 in China’s Eastern Tian Shan recorded most negative mass balance since records began in 1959
• Reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat “punishing” for glaciers
• Work of national meteorological and hydrological services and their partners “more important than ever”, states WMO Secretary General

Headline findings for the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas

The WMO flagship provides a continent-wide update, but climate trends and extreme events from the Hindu Kush Himalayas feature prominently.

Below is a summary of the HKH-specific key findings:

Precipitation:

• 2024 saw above-normal in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan; as well as in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta.
• Below-normal in China’s Altyn-Tagh mountains, which separate the Eastern Tarim Basin from the Tibetan Plateau, and the Kunlun Mountains which run more than 3,000km and demarcate the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau from the south of the Tarim Basin.
• Pakistan’s western Himalayas and Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush were drier than usual

Cryosphere:

• 23 out of 24 High Mountain Asia glaciers monitored show continued mass loss
• reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat intensified losses in the central Himalayas (most of Nepal, Tibet Autonomous Region in China and Sikkim in India) and most of the Tian Shan (the mountain range shared by China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan).

Snow Cover:

• The boreal spring – March to May – snow cover extent (SCE) over Asia has been decreasing by 215,000km squared on average per decade.
• A belt of below-average SCE extends from western to eastern parts of Asia, with negative SCE anomalies dominating the central region and the middle Himalayas.

Sea surface temperatures:

• Asia’s ocean sea surface temperature (SST) was the highest on record – and is warming at nearly double the global mean rate
• SST influences extreme rainfall patterns in India and the Asian summer monsoon

Extreme events

Tropical Cyclones:

• Cyclonic storm Asna was just the third time a cyclone has formed in the Arabian Sea since 1891

Extreme precipitation and flooding:

• Pakistan had its wettest April on record
• Sustained heavy rain in September and October Nepal triggered floods and landslides

Droughts:

• China’s Yunnan and southern Sichuan Province saw winter and spring droughts, with persistent below-normal precipitation a key driver
• In August drought intensified in China’s Sichuan, the Yangtze river, and Chongqing – leading to economic losses of 2.89billion yuan.

Heatwaves:

• Monthly average temperature records were broken in China in April, May, August, September, and November.
• Several parts of India experienced intense heatwaves in 2024 – leaving 450 dead
• Myanmar set a new national maximum temperature record – of 48.2ºC – in April.

Other extremes:

• Western and south-western Afghanistan saw more frequent sand and dust storms than average, possibly linked to long-term drought
• Northern China was hit by a May sandstorm 2,000km away – causing poor air quality
• Lightning killed 72 people in Northern India on 10 July, and killed 1,300 people across India across the year

130 people lost their homes, school, and health facilities when a significant glacial lake outburst flood in Nepal in August triggered flash floods in Thame.

Expert Quotes – ICIMOD

Pema Gyamtsho, who is leading ICIMOD’s delegation to the Bonn meetings, stated, “Given Asia’s population and economic exposure to the impacts of temperature rise, it is an injustice that the devastating consequences of inaction on climate goals are hitting some of the most vulnerable communities and ecosystems on Earth.

As we’ve heard from other major convenings earlier this year, this is the last decade of action on preserving essential planetary resources including our glaciers. This can only happen if we put forward a coordinated effort with our member countries of the HKH in profiling these challenges and urge the global community – including major emitting countries to lead on action towards just transitions.”

Qianggong Zhang, Climate and environment risks Head, ICIMOD 
“This WMO report provides a crucial stocktake of the key indicators being affected by climate change in our region. For the HKH, the warming and extreme rainfall are more intense than in many other areas, alongside the challenge of glacial melt and erratic rainfall, it is equally vital that communities’ adaptive capabilities are considered. In addition to scientific analysis, investing in climate services, including knowledge and data generation and use, as well as fostering regional coping capacities, will be extremely beneficial for building the region’s resilience. ”

Sher Muhammad, Remote Sensing Specialist at ICIMOD says,
“These observations largely coincide with what is being seen across the HKH region as well. Seasonal snowmelt contributes approximately 25 % of annual river flows on average across the HKH, rising even higher in western basins—yet continual snow deficits are eroding this critical source, triggering early-summer water shortages, heat stress, and worry among downstream communities.”

Saswata Sanyal, Disaster Risk Reduction Lead, ICIMOD
“The WMO report rightly emphasizes the urgent need for anticipatory action in the face of escalating climate-induced disasters. This proactive approach is crucial for anticipating and mitigating disaster impacts before they fully unfold. ICIMOD recently joined the Intergovernmental Organizations’ Cooperation on Anticipatory Action to further ‘acting ahead of a predicted hazardous event to prevent or reduce impacts on lives and livelihoods and humanitarian needs’ across the Hindu Kush Himalaya, directly empowering communities to take necessary actions against the increasing threats of heavy rainfall, flash floods, and other water-related hazards in the region.” 

Neera Shrestha Pradhan, Lead of the Cryosphere and Water
“The 2024 monsoon had devastating impacts on communities across Nepal, from Kathmandu to the flood-prone Terai region, as mentioned in the report. In response, ICIMOD is contributing to the global EW4All initiative, aligning with its four pillars—ranging from investing in nature-based solutions to mitigating flood impacts, to ensuring localized and community-based responses. Recognising that early warning alone is not enough, ICIMOD is working to strengthen anticipatory early action and preparedness by fostering collaboration between communities and local governments. We are also working with partners to pilot gamification of training approaches —making learning more interactive, and impactful. These efforts aim to build lasting resilience in the face of increasingly flood events and multi-hazard risks that are increasing in our region.”