Telangana is in the midst of one of its coldest winters in recent years, with night temperatures plunging to single digits across most parts of the State, including the twin cities, according to meteorologists at the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS).
“This year, winter set in early right from November and the cold has been relentless. This could be due to the dominance of dry northern winds over the usual easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, which typically bring warmth and moisture. With clear skies and no cloud cover, the cold has spread beyond isolated pockets to most regions,” explained senior weather consultant Y.V. Rama Rao in an exclusive interaction.
The minimum or night temperatures across the State have been hovering between 7°C and 12°C in many places, compared to the normal range of 12°C to 16°C for this time of year. In some areas like Sangareddy, Warangal, Vikarabad, Adilabad, and Kumuram Bheem in north Telangana, temperatures have dipped to between 6°C and 9°C, he noted.
In the capital region, it is slightly higher, with night temperatures ranging from 8°C to 12°C. The maximum or the daytime temperatures remain close to normal around 28°C to 31°C in the twin cities and 30°C to 33°C in the districts, said Mr. Rama Rao.
However, relief is on the horizon as the cold conditions are likely to ease somewhat by December 27, when temperatures are expected to rise by a degree or two across the State. Night temperatures may increase to 11°C to 14°C in the capital region and 8°C to 13°C in the districts, he said.
These conditions are likely to continue until January, and there is no indication that temperatures will dip again before the winter season ends in mid-February, he added. As of December 23, the lowest minimum temperature of 7°C was recorded at Sirpur in Kumuram Bheem district, while 9.3°C was recorded at the University of Hyderabad (Rangareddy).