Sikkim Records Hottest September Since 1969, Avg Temp Goes Past 24 Degree Celsius

Gangtok : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that Sikkim has witnessed the hottest September since 1969, when it began recording temperatures in the state.

"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," said Gopinath Raha, Head of IMD Gangtok . 

Hottest September In Sikkim Since 1969

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, according to Raha.

Gangtok Records 27 Degree Celsius

Gangtok hit 26.8 degrees Celsius on Monday (September 23), marking the warmest September since 1998, when temperatures reached 27.1 degrees Celsius. This month, Gangtok has seen 11 days with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius. From September 6 to 13, the mercury consistently stayed above 24 degrees Celsius, and the same pattern continued from September 18 to 23. Tadong, situated 1,500 feet below Gangtok, recorded a high of 33.1 degrees Celsius on September 21, the hottest temperature for September in that area.

The unusual heat wasn't confined to Gangtok ; Darjeeling also experienced elevated temperatures, reaching 28.2 degrees Celsius on September 21, according to the IMD head. The monsoon season in Sikkim typically starts in late May and lasts until September 30, sometimes extending into mid-October.

"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," IMD official said. 

Sikkim receives non-monsoonal rainfall from western disturbances during the dry season, but these disturbances are increasingly shifting their path toward the northern hemisphere.

(With inputs from ANI)