Monsoon halts in TS, as heatwave warning issued for 48-hours

The IMD has issued a heatwave warning for several Telangana districts as the Southwest Monsoon remains weak over the State. While thunderstorms are expected this week, experts indicate that stronger monsoon activity may return only after June 22 and 23

Hyderabad: The much-anticipated progress of the Southwest Monsoon in Telangana remains on hold, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad, on Monday evening issuing a heatwave warning for multiple districts that will remain in effect for the next 48 hours.

The warning, projecting maximum temperatures between 41 degrees Celsius and 44 degrees Celsius, has been issued for Adilabad, Komuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Peddapalli and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts.

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On the pressing issue of when the Southwest Monsoon is likely to regain strength in Telangana and elsewhere in the country, meteorological officials and climate scientists suggest there is a possibility of a resurgence after June 22 and 23. At present, the monsoon has yet to fully establish its presence over Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

In the interim, the IMD, Hyderabad, has forecast extensive thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) across multiple districts. By the middle of this week, almost all districts in Telangana are expected to witness extensive thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.

Meanwhile, the broader picture of the march of the Southwest Monsoon remains concerning. Satellite imagery from INSAT-3DS on Monday revealed a total absence of rain-bearing clouds over southern and central India, prompting questions among climatologists regarding the influence of ongoing atmospheric shifts.

National data underscores this precarious start: between June 4 and June 15, the country received only 19.2 mm of rainfall against a normal of 53.7 mm, resulting in a nationwide deficit of 64 per cent.