State of the climate in Asia 2023

The WMO State of the Climate in Asia 2023, is the fourth edition of climate reports published annually for this region and has involved National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), WMO Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), and several research institutions, as well as United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations. The report provides the status of key climate indicators and latest data and information on impacts, risks and policy from United Nations agencies. It addresses specific physical science, socio-economic, and policy aspects that are relevant to Asia and responds to Members' needs in the fields of climate monitoring, climate change, and climate services.

Key messages from the publication include:

• In 2023, the mean temperature over Asia was 0.91 °C above the 1991–2020 reference period, the second highest on record. Many parts of the region experienced extreme heat events in 2023. Japan experienced its hottest summer on record.
• The ocean around Asia has shown an overall warming trend since time series began in 1982. In 2023, sea-surface temperature anomalies in the north-west Pacific Ocean were the highest on record.
• Overall, the 79 reported hydrometeorological hazard events in 2023 led to over 2 000 fatalities and impacted more than 9 million people.
• In 2023, over 80% of reported hydrometeorological hazards in Asia were flood and storm events. Yemen suffered heavy rainfall and resulting widespread floods, with over 30 reported casualties and over 165 000 individuals affected in over 70 districts.