Summer rains: TS gets some respite from hot winds, dry weather

Hyderabad: Just as the hot winds are fading away from Telangana and the southeasterly winds are replacing the northwesterly winds, the state is getting some respite in the form of summer rains to cool down the prevailing dry weather.

According to the daily weather report by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on 20 March seven districts in the state – Medchal Malkajgiri, Jogulamba Gadwal, Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthy, Vikarabad, Nagakurnool, and Rangareddy – received excess rainfall. Siddipet and Narayanpet received normal rainfall and the remaining districts didn't receive any rains.

According to the Telangana State Development and Planning Society (TSDPS), in the last 24 hours, Saroornagar in Rangareddy received the state's highest rainfall of 13 mm. In Hyderabad, the highest rainfall was recorded at 6.1 mm. Isolated places in the state also received very light (0.3 to 2.4 mm) to light (2.5 to 15.5 mm) rainfall.

According to the TSDPS evening weather update (from 8:30 a.m to 6 p,m), on 19 March, Maruti Nagar in Uppal recorded the highest rainfall, 35.5 mm, in the GHMC area followed by the GHMC office in LB Nagar in Chaitanyapuri which received 27.8 mm rainfall.

More rains in TS

IMD Hyderabad has also warned of rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on 20 March in most of the districts in the state.

Independent weather observer T. Balaji, popularly known as Telangana Weatherman on Twitter, said rains are expected across the state for the next six days. He tweeted, "Isolated, scattered rains and thunderstorms will continue in TS, HYD today and for the next 6 days. Heat will be in control. After March 31, another heatwave."

The distinction between isolated and scattered rains is made based on the coverage of rains over a forecast area. Isolated rains mean only 10-20% of the given area is expected to receive rainfall whereas, in the case of scattered rainfall, 30-50% of the given area is expected to receive rains.

Another weather enthusiast in the city, Raj, said light to moderate rainfall is expected in the state on 20 March. Forecasting summer rains on Sunday, he wrote, "West, South, and Central Telangana districts will see scattered thunderstorms. North and East Telangana districts will see isolated rains."

Mercury levels rising

Meanwhile, temperatures across the state are also soaring. According to TSDPS, Jainad in Adilabad recorded the state's highest maximum temperature of 40°Celsius in the last 24 hours. In Hyderabad, Asifnagar reported the highest maximum temperature of 36.8°Celsius. In almost all the districts, the maximum temperatures rose above 33°Celsius.

Vikarabad recorded the state's lowest minimum temperature of 16.9°Celsius in the last 24 hours.