Goa’s seasonal calendar, once marked by the rhythm of the monsoon followed by the unmistakable chill of winter, appears to be changing year after year. Climatic conditions are becoming unpredictable, and as we head towards the end of September, there is a lingering sense of uncertainty about this year’s winter season because the crispness that traditionally signalled winter’s gradual arrival is largely missing. Instead, Goa and much of the country continue to endure oppressive heat, heavy humidity and increasingly unpredictable weather.
Recent climate assessments underline the scale of the change. Global surface temperatures in August 2026 tied for the warmest month ever recorded, rising 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels. India, too, recorded its hottest August since records began in 1901. These statistics point to a deeper disruption of the weather patterns that have shaped everyday life across the country for generations.
Perhaps the most worrying sign is the gradual erosion of winter itself. Experts warn that a powerful El Nino phenomenon, expected to persist well into 2027, could further delay or weaken the onset of the traditional cold season. Warm nights are adding to the problem, preventing land, buildings and cities from cooling sufficiently after sunset. The result is thermal stress that continues around the clock. The relief once associated with the final months of the year is increasingly giving way to what feels like an extended summer.
Persistent atmospheric moisture worsens the situation. Even as several parts of the country report rainfall deficits — including a 16.3% decline in August rainfall and significant monsoon shortfalls — humidity remains uncomfortably high. Goa offers a stark illustration of this changing reality. In a region whose ecosystems have long depended on monsoon patterns, the “feels-like” heat index has recently touched a critical 47.8°C. Such conditions place a serious physical burden on people.
For low-lying coastal regions, the threat is even more complex. Goa’s mean annual temperature has risen by more than 1°C over the past century, contributing to growing environmental stress. Coastal erosion is eating away at stretches of shoreline, with areas such as Bardez and Salcete reportedly losing more than 0.6 metres annually. Rising sea levels are also pushing saltwater inland, threatening freshwater aquifers and fragile river systems.
Agriculture, drinking water supplies, tourism and fishing communities all stand to be affected. Across the country, changing weather patterns are already translating into economic and social pressure. Moisture stress in key crops such as paddy and sugarcane threatens agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, while reduced yields can feed directly into food inflation.
India has undoubtedly made important progress in expanding clean energy, with non-fossil sources now accounting for more than 52% of installed capacity. The recognition by judicial bodies that protection from the adverse effects of climate change is linked to fundamental rights is also a significant step. Yet domestic action alone cannot insulate India from a global crisis. Warming oceans and changing atmospheric currents do not recognise national borders, and the narrowing window for meaningful global climate action is becoming increasingly evident.
India must therefore prepare for a future in which familiar seasonal transitions can no longer be taken for granted. We need serious investment in heat-resilient cities, climate-smart agriculture and stronger coastal protection. The disappearing winter of 2026 may be an alarming sign of what lies ahead. Without decisive action, both at home and globally, what now appears unusual could soon become the new normal for generations to come.
