India experienced extreme weather events on 92% of days in the first nine months of 2026, according to CSE and Down To Earth's Climate India 2026 report.
Extreme weather claimed 3,220 lives, damaged 4.25 million hectares of crops, destroyed 128,334 houses and killed 47,244 livestock.
Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh recorded the most days of extreme weather, while Uttar Pradesh reported the highest death toll at 811.
The five-year analysis found that extreme weather affected nearly every part of India, with more than 16,000 deaths and 20.6 million hectares of crops damaged between 2022 and 2026.
India experienced extreme weather events on 92 per cent of days in the first nine months of 2026, resulting in 3,220 deaths, damage to 4.25 million hectares (mha) of crops and the destruction of 128,334 houses, according to a new report released by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth (DTE).
Climate India 2026: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events, released on November 4, 2026, also analysed trends between 2022 and 2026, found that the share of days affected by extreme weather increased from 86-88 per cent in 2022 and 2023 to 93 per cent in 2024 and 99 per cent in 2025.
Extreme weather claimed more than 16,000 lives and damaged at least 20.6 mha of crops over the five years, with more than 82 per cent of agricultural damage occurring between 2024 and 2026. It also recorded the deaths of 47,244 livestock due to heatwaves, cold waves, lightning, storms, heavy rainfall, floods and landslides.
The report also highlighted changing seasonal patterns. February 2026 was India's driest since 1901 and fourth-warmest in 125 years.
Despite the southwest monsoon recording 13 per cent less rainfall than the long-period average, heavy rainfall, floods or landslides occurred somewhere in the country on all 122 days of the monsoon season.
"This is the human face of climate change," said CSE director general Sunita Narain, adding that almost every part of the country was experiencing extreme weather.
Down To Earth managing editor Richard Mahapatra said the findings highlighted the need to shift from disaster response towards risk reduction and resilience building, including better drainage, water-recharge infrastructure and restoration of forests and green spaces.
The report also found that Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh experienced extreme weather on nearly 64 per cent of the 273 days between January and September, the highest among states. Uttar Pradesh recorded the most fatalities at 811, followed by Maharashtra (286) and Bihar (245).
Maharashtra reported the largest cropped area affected at 2.83 mha, followed by Uttar Pradesh (0.69 mha) and Bihar (0.23 mha).
Northwest India recorded extreme weather on 235 days, the highest among regions, followed by east and northeast India with 218 days.
