Despite the southwest monsoon advancing across the country Telangana continues to experience below normal rainfall with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributing the dry spell to the absence of rain triggering weather systems and the state’s current position in a rain shadow region.
According to IMD Hyderabad, neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka have received 60 to 80 cm of rainfall in recent weeks while Telangana has recorded only around 6 to 7 cm during the same period.
Srinivas G.N.R.S., Senior Meteorologist at IMD Hyderabad, said the arrival of monsoon winds alone does not ensure widespread rainfall. He explained that precipitation depends on the formation of weather systems such as low pressure areas, upper air cyclonic circulations or other synoptic disturbances, particularly over the Bay of Bengal. In the absence of such systems, Telangana has remained largely dry.
The prolonged rainfall deficit has also led to rising daytime temperatures across the state. Reduced cloud cover has pushed maximum temperatures to nearly 38°C in some areas, around 6°C above normal. High humidity has further intensified discomfort, making temperatures feel significantly higher.
The IMD has forecast hot and humid conditions in several districts including Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar and Nagarkurnool.
Looking ahead, IMD officials said international climate monitoring agencies continue to indicate that El Niño conditions are likely to strengthen during the remainder of the southwest monsoon season and later in the year. El Niño is declared when sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean remain at least 0.5°C above normal, with stronger anomalies indicating moderate to strong events.
Meteorologists said a strengthening El Niño could further influence India monsoon performance in the coming months, making rainfall distribution increasingly uneven across different regions of the country.