Rain bounty: Despite sluggish monsoon, TS gets 112% excess rainfall till 19 July

Hyderabad: Telangana received an excess cumulative rainfall of 112% in the southwest monsoon till 19 July in 2022, according to the Telangana State Development Planning Society's (TSDPS) latest data released on 19 July. Usually, the state receives around 267.5 mm from 1 June to 19 July whereas this year, it received around 567.4 mm during the same period. It is also 41% more than the rainfall received during the same period in 2021, i.e., 402.2 mm.

Normally, the period from June to September is known as the southwest monsoon season. Telangana receives a total annual rainfall of 906.3 mm and about 80%, i.e., 721.2 mm alone is received from the SW monsoon.

In the GHMC area also 319.6 mm rainfall was recorded from 1 June to 19 July against a normal of 207.7 mm which is a deviation of 54%.

Magical rain: July 2022 & 202% excess

From 1 July to 19 July, usually, the state receives 138.2 mm, whereas this year the state has received more than two times the normal, around 416.8 mm, i.e., 202% excess. From 1 to 19 July 2021, the state had 207.9 mm rainfall, compared to which this year it is 100% more.

In June 2022 also Telangana received an excess of 16% more rainfall, i.e., 150.6 mm against the normal 129.3 mm. However, this is 22% less than the rainfall recorded in June 2021, i.e., 194.3 mm.

When the entire month of July is considered, 244.4 mm is the normal rainfall received in the state and the highest rainfall recorded during 24 hours was 517.5 mm at Wazeed in Mulugu on 19 July 2013.

187% excess cumulative rainfall in Nizamabad

From 1 June to 19 July 2022, Nizamabad received humongous rainfall of 950.1 mm. Compared to the normal rainfall during this period in the district which is only 331.5 mm rainfall, this year Nizamabd received 187% excess rainfall against the normal.

Nizamabad is followed by Jagtial and Karimnagar when it comes to excess rainfall this year. Jagtial received 944.6 mm against the normal 342.2 mm which is almost 176% more than normal. Karimanagar recorded 753.3 mm against the normal 274.3 mm which is almost 175% more than normal.

Interestingly, from 1 June to 19 July, out of the 33 districts in Telangana, 29 districts received large excess rainfall, i.e., an excess of 60% and more compared to the normal. Four districts –Wanaparthy, Vikarabad, Hyderabad, and Jogulamba Gadwal – received excess rainfall of 58%, 54%, 44%, and 33% respectively.

Meanwhile, in the state, in the last 24 hours, Laxmidevipally in Bhadradri Kothagudem received the state's highest rainfall of 52.8 mm. In Hyderabad, the highest rainfall of 5.1 mm was recorded in Trimulgherry.

The last 7 days' rainfall and the big leap

IMD Hyderabad director K. Nagaratna said that it is the low-pressure area in Odisha and northern coastal Andhra Pradesh that resulted in the excess rainfall this year.

T. Balaji popularly known as Telangana Weatherman said it is important to remember that we had a delayed monsoon this year. "There was a delay in the onset of monsoon and till 15 June, rainfall in Telangana was less due to subdued monsoon conditions. By the end of June, we were still receiving only around 19% excess rainfall," he explained.

But the low-pressure area in the Chattisgarh-Vidarbha area that stalled for almost six days caused heavy rainfall, especially in the last one week, he said. "The last 7 days' rainfall is very important for the anomaly or the significant jump in rainfall figures in Telangana. The record-breaking rainfall in the last week brought floods in northern Telangana," said Balaji.

He also added that now there is a break monsoon condition in Telangana which means that the monsoon trough is now in north India. So, there will not be much rainfall till Friday. "From Friday, the rains will gradually increase due to a trough formation," he said.

Regarding the rainfall forecast for the next five days, Nagaratna said, "For the first three days, light to moderate rains are expected in some districts and thereafter on the fourth and fifth days, light to moderate rains are likely to spread to more districts in Telangana."