The Crossbill News Desk
Asia experienced one of its hottest years on record in 2025, with the pace of warming over the last three decades nearly doubling compared to the period between 1961 and 1990, according to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) latest assessment of the region’s climate.
Released on Wednesday (June 17), the State of the Climate in Asia 2025 report found that temperatures across the Asian landmass last year were 0.96 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average and approximately 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than the 1961-1990 baseline.
Although most of the continent recorded above-normal temperatures, some parts of South Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, witnessed relatively cooler conditions because of favourable monsoon rainfall.
“Temperatures were above average across most of the region, except for parts of South Asia. Cooler than average conditions prevailed over South Asia, including the Indian sub-continent, mainly due to good rainfall during the monsoon season,” the report said.
The WMO noted that the continent has been warming at an accelerating pace since the latter half of the twentieth century.
“A pronounced warming trend has emerged across Asia since the latter half of the twentieth century. During the two most recent subperiods (1961-1990 and 1991-2025), Asia warmed more rapidly than the global land and ocean average,” the report said.
“This pattern is consistent with findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, which also notes that temperatures over land increase faster than those over the ocean. Notably, the warming trend in Asia during the 1991-2025 period was approximately twice as strong as observed in the region during the 1991-1960 period,” it added.
The report documented a series of climate-related disasters across the continent, including glacial lake outburst floods, extreme summer temperatures in East Asia, drought conditions in West Asia and destructive tropical cyclones that triggered severe flooding across South and Southeast Asia.
India witnessed flash floods in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, while the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused devastation in Sri Lanka, also contributed to flooding in parts of Tamil Nadu.
The economic and human costs of these events were substantial. Vietnam suffered losses estimated at $1.9 billion due to prolonged flooding, while Sri Lanka recorded 640 deaths, widespread displacement and economic losses amounting to around 4 per cent of its GDP following Cyclone Ditwah and associated floods.
“Asia is impacted by rising temperatures, warming ocean waters, higher sea levels and retreating glaciers. Heavy rainfall, flooding and drought have a heavy economic and human cost, while extreme heat, dust storms and glacial flooding are becoming major hazards,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO.
Among the most striking findings was the unprecedented rise in ocean heat content. According to the report, 2025 recorded the highest ocean heat content in Asia since measurements began in 1960. Particularly strong subsurface warming was observed in the south-eastern Arabian Sea, the southern Bay of Bengal, waters south of Sri Lanka stretching into the central equatorial Indian Ocean and sections of the North Pacific.
Since nearly 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the oceans, rising ocean temperatures play a crucial role in sea-level rise and disruptions to ocean circulation systems.
The WMO also found that almost the entire marine area surrounding Asia experienced strong, severe or extreme marine heatwaves during 2025. The northern Indian Ocean, waters around Japan, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were among the worst affected regions.
The findings underscore how rapidly intensifying ocean warming and extreme weather events are increasing risks to ecosystems, fisheries and millions of people whose livelihoods depend on coastal and marine resources across Asia.
Released on Wednesday (June 17), the State of the Climate in Asia 2025 report found that temperatures across the Asian landmass last year were 0.96 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average and approximately 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than the 1961-1990 baseline.
Although most of the continent recorded above-normal temperatures, some parts of South Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, witnessed relatively cooler conditions because of favourable monsoon rainfall.
“Temperatures were above average across most of the region, except for parts of South Asia. Cooler than average conditions prevailed over South Asia, including the Indian sub-continent, mainly due to good rainfall during the monsoon season,” the report said.
The WMO noted that the continent has been warming at an accelerating pace since the latter half of the twentieth century.
“A pronounced warming trend has emerged across Asia since the latter half of the twentieth century. During the two most recent subperiods (1961-1990 and 1991-2025), Asia warmed more rapidly than the global land and ocean average,” the report said.
“This pattern is consistent with findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, which also notes that temperatures over land increase faster than those over the ocean. Notably, the warming trend in Asia during the 1991-2025 period was approximately twice as strong as observed in the region during the 1991-1960 period,” it added.
The report documented a series of climate-related disasters across the continent, including glacial lake outburst floods, extreme summer temperatures in East Asia, drought conditions in West Asia and destructive tropical cyclones that triggered severe flooding across South and Southeast Asia.
India witnessed flash floods in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, while the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused devastation in Sri Lanka, also contributed to flooding in parts of Tamil Nadu.
The economic and human costs of these events were substantial. Vietnam suffered losses estimated at $1.9 billion due to prolonged flooding, while Sri Lanka recorded 640 deaths, widespread displacement and economic losses amounting to around 4 per cent of its GDP following Cyclone Ditwah and associated floods.
“Asia is impacted by rising temperatures, warming ocean waters, higher sea levels and retreating glaciers. Heavy rainfall, flooding and drought have a heavy economic and human cost, while extreme heat, dust storms and glacial flooding are becoming major hazards,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO.
Among the most striking findings was the unprecedented rise in ocean heat content. According to the report, 2025 recorded the highest ocean heat content in Asia since measurements began in 1960. Particularly strong subsurface warming was observed in the south-eastern Arabian Sea, the southern Bay of Bengal, waters south of Sri Lanka stretching into the central equatorial Indian Ocean and sections of the North Pacific.
Since nearly 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the oceans, rising ocean temperatures play a crucial role in sea-level rise and disruptions to ocean circulation systems.
The WMO also found that almost the entire marine area surrounding Asia experienced strong, severe or extreme marine heatwaves during 2025. The northern Indian Ocean, waters around Japan, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were among the worst affected regions.
The findings underscore how rapidly intensifying ocean warming and extreme weather events are increasing risks to ecosystems, fisheries and millions of people whose livelihoods depend on coastal and marine resources across Asia.
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