Telangana faces a high-impact rainfall event on October 28, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mulugu as Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify over the Bay of Bengal and move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
The IMD has warned of isolated extremely heavy rain in the three districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mahbubabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda and Suryapet, while heavy rain has been forecast in parts of Mancherial, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jangaon, Nalgonda, Siddipet and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri.
The warning follows the development of a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. According to S. Stella, head scientist at IMD-Hyderabad, the system is expected to become a depression on Saturday, a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.
The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28, Stella said. Its proximity to the coast and continued movement in that direction are expected to increase rainfall activity across Telangana, particularly in the eastern and southern districts.
The forecast has direct implications for low-lying settlements and road connectivity. Residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to remain alert to possible waterlogging and overflowing streams. Farmers and commuters have also been urged to monitor local weather advisories, particularly as thunderstorms and strong winds may accompany the rainfall.
The IMD has forecast isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph on October 27 in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mulugu, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahbubabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda and Jayashankar Bhupalpally. On October 29, isolated heavy rain is likely in eastern Telangana districts including Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mahbubabad, Nalgonda, Suryapet and Mancherial.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely at isolated places across the state on October 29. Hyderabad is expected to see partly cloudy skies and morning haze over the next 48 hours, with temperatures likely to remain around 33°C during the day and 21°C at night.
The IMD’s advisories place the immediate focus on monitoring low-lying areas, streams and transport routes as the system approaches the coast and rainfall activity increases across Telangana.
