Telangana rainfall is expected to increase from Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting rain and thunderstorms across the state through September 22, including isolated heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds that could affect travel and local urban services.
The IMD, Hyderabad, has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at a few places in Telangana on September 17 and 18. Rainfall is expected at many places across the state from September 19 to 22. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places on September 19 and 20, while isolated heavy rainfall has been forecast across Telangana on September 21 and 22.
The weather department has also warned of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph at isolated places from September 17 to 20. The warning is expected to extend across the state on September 20, according to an IMD scientist quoted by Deccan Chronicle.
The forecast is linked to a weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal region. An upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Thailand is expected to emerge over the north Andaman Sea on September 18. A low-pressure area is likely to form on September 19 and gradually intensify as it moves west-northwest towards the south Odisha–north Andhra Pradesh coasts over the next three to four days.
The IMD also reported an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Rayalaseema at 1.5 km above mean sea level. These systems are expected to contribute to the prolonged spell of rain and thunderstorms forecast for Telangana.
The coming spell follows a below-normal monsoon in the state. Between June 1 and September 16, Telangana recorded 536.5 mm of rainfall against its normal cumulative rainfall of 664.5 mm, leaving it 19 per cent below normal. Hyderabad recorded 429.4 mm against a normal 540.6 mm, resulting in a 21 per cent deficit for the city.
The rainfall forecast has implications for city operations, including road travel, drainage management and outdoor activity, particularly during periods of heavy rain, lightning and strong winds. The IMD forecast specifies isolated heavy rainfall rather than uniformly heavy rain across the state, so conditions are expected to vary by location.
Weather blogger Balaji T., analysing the forecast spell, expects powerful thunderstorms between September 17 and 25. He estimates that Telangana could receive 600–640 mm of cumulative rainfall and Hyderabad 530–560 mm by the end of September. These estimates are separate from the IMD forecast and would, according to his assessment, reduce the state’s final rainfall deficit to 14–18 per cent.
