A new report reveals that Lucknow and Mumbai are among the Indian cities hit hardest by climate ‘whiplash,’ a phenomenon causing rapid swings between extreme wet and dry weather due to the climate crisis. The study, commissioned by WaterAid, analysed 112 major cities and found that 95% are trending toward either wetter or drier conditions, with devastating consequences for urban populations.
Lucknow and Mumbai face unprecedented weather extremes
Lucknow has experienced one of the sharpest switches from dry to wet extremes while Mumbai’s weather has “flipped to become far wetter”. These erratic shifts are wreaking havoc on infrastructure, water supplies and public health.
In Mumbai, heavy rains lead to flash floods, overwhelming sanitation systems and active waterborne diseases. Meanwhile, Lucknow faces the dual challenge of prolonged droughts followed by intense downpours, disrupting agriculture and livelihood.
Cities with ageing or inadequate infrastructure are particularly vulnerable
The report highlights that South and Southeast Asia, including India, are experiencing the strongest wetting trends, while regions like Europe and the Middle East are drying out. China’s eastern city of Hangzhou and Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, topped the list of cities suffering from ‘climate whiplash’ – a rapid succession of prolonged floods and droughts, the study showed.
Experts warn that cities with ageing or inadequate infrastructure, like Mumbai and Lucknow, are particularly vulnerable. Prof. Michael Singer, co-author of the study, stressed the urgency for adaptive measures, describing the phenomenon as ‘global weirding.’ He highlighted that it is unrealistic to expect uniform responses to climate change across different regions, as it disregards factors such as wealth or the quality of infrastructure.
As the climate crisis deepens, the report calls for global action to address these challenges, ensuring communities can recover from disasters and prepare for an uncertain future. For cities like Lucknow and Mumbai, the stakes have never been higher.
