March 27, 2025
THIMPHU – For the first time since meteorological records were maintained in 1996, Bhur Meteorological Station in Sarpang has recorded a staggering 40°C, marking the highest daily maximum temperature of 2024.
This extreme temperature surpasses the highest recorded temperature in recent years, signaling the intensifying impacts of global warming on the Himalayan region.
Until now, only two instances of 40°C had been recorded in the country’s history—Phuentsholing in 1997 and Tangmachu in 2018.
The new record aligns with global trends, as the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has declared 2024 the hottest year on record. According to the WMO’s State of the Global Climate 2024 report, the global mean near-surface temperature was 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), marking the first year to exceed 1.5°C.
Along with global warming trend, the average temperature in the country is also steadily increasing.
Bhutan’s climate data over the past five years points to a consistent rise in temperatures. From 2019 to 2024, the country’s annual average maximum temperature increased from 22.54°C in 2019 to 23.31°C, in 2024 with 2023 recording 23. 18°C. Similarly, the annual average minimum temperature has risen from 12.18°C in 2023 to 12.51°C in 2024.
Extreme heat events are also intensifying. In 2023, Bhur recorded a high of 40°C, surpassing the previous peak of 38.5°C in Phuentsholing in 2022 and Punakha in 2021. In 2019 both Phuentsholing and Punakha saw a peak of 37.0°C.
The lowest daily minimum temperature has consistently been recorded in Haa, ranging from -12.5°C in 2019 and 2021 to -9.0°C in 2024, indicating a slight warming trend even in colder regions.
According to the data with National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), meteorological stations such as Sipsu, Phuentsholing, Bhur, Punakha, and Bajo have consistently reported higher annual maximum temperatures over the past few years. Conversely, colder regions like Haa, Gasa, Paro, and Chamkhar continue to experience lower annual averages, though warming is evident across all regions.
Bhutan’s glaciers are rapidly responding to rising temperatures, posing significant risks to water security and communities downstream. Data shows that between 1990 and 2020, Bhutan’s three benchmark glaciers—Thana, Gangjula, and Shodug—have been retreating at an accelerating pace. Glaciers in the east are shrinking faster than those in the west, with area loss ranging between 15 percent and 30 percent over the past three decades.
Since 2003, Bhutan has lost about 1,038 gigatonnes of glacier ice, with Thana losing roughly 50 gigatonnes since 2016 and Gangju La losing about 10 gigatonnes since 2003.
With an annual average loss of 1,667 kilogrammes (kg) per square metre per year, this loss equates to around 1.038 trillion litres of water, assuming that one kg of ice equals one litre of water. This amount of water would fill about 415,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, each of which holds about 660,000 gallons or 2.5 million litres of water.
If each person drinks about two litres of water per day, 1.038 trillion liters would provide enough drinking water for about 1.5 billion people for an entire year.
Recognising the urgent need to protect glaciers, the United Nations has declared 2025 as International Year of Glaciers Preservation. March 21 will be observed annually as World Day for Glaciers to raise awareness and encourage global efforts to combat glacier loss.