Southwest monsoon weak over Hyderabad, covers northern and eastern districts

HYDERABAD: The Southwest monsoon continues to be weak over the city with only the northern districts receiving rainfall, leaving central and southern districts dry. Meteorologists predict that the rainfall activity over the city will intensify only towards the end of July.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad analysis, Telangana has received 360 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 23, against a normal 306.3 mm rainfall.

Districts which received deficient rainfall, about 20 to 50 per cent lower than normal, are those surrounding the Greater Hyderabad limits. Among them are Medak, Sangareddy, Vikarabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri, apart from the core city areas.

“A well-marked depression that initially formed over northern Bay of Bengal moved towards west northwestwardly resulting in lesser rainfall in areas surrounding Hyderabad. The depression’s movement led to higher rainfall in northern and eastern districts,” said Raja Rao, meteorologist in IMD, Hyderabad.

While Hyderabad received 15 per cent deficient seasonal rainfall, Sangareddy received 24 per cent, Vikarabad 22 percent and Medchal-Malkajgiri and Medak 30 percent respectively.

Private weather forecasting agencies attribute absence of rainfall to insignificant system around the state even as strong westerly winds are prevailing over the area.

“An upper level trough is seen extending up to south Odisha coast. As this system is likely to move further westwards, the effect of this trough will be less over Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Therefore, we expect moderate rains in parts of extreme northern parts of the state and rest parts of Telangana will witness scattered light rainfall activity,” a weather report by Skymet said. Skymet also predict marginal rise in temperature over the region.