Hyderabad: The city is likely to experience an unusual weather pattern, with summer-like heat, winter chill, and unseasonal rainfall occurring in quick succession over the next week. Weather experts say this phenomenon, which has not been observed in the past five years, indicates significant changes in local climate patterns.
Jan is traditionally one of the coldest months in Hyderabad, with average temperatures ranging between 15.6 and 28.6 degrees Celsius. In recent years, the city saw variations in winter temperatures. For instance, Jan 2022 recorded lows of 12 degrees Celsius, while 2023 saw milder winters with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius. This year, until mid-Jan, temperatures dipped as low as 11 degrees Celsius in some areas, making it one of the coldest Jan since 2020.
“However, starting Jan 25, daytime temperatures are expected to rise sharply to 34-36 degrees Celsius, levels typically seen in late March or early April,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Historical data shows that such temperatures have rarely been recorded in Jan; the last instance of similar heat was in Jan 2015, when the city recorded a high of 34 degrees Celsius.
This sudden and unusual heatwave in Jan has been attributed to changes in wind patterns and reduced humidity. Adding to the anomaly, meteorologists are predicting unseasonal rainfall in the first week of Feb, especially in the western districts of Telangana. Jan and Feb are usually among the driest months, with an average rainfall of only 9-10 mm. However, in Feb 2021, an unexpected rainstorm brought about 22 mm of rain, disrupting the otherwise dry winter.
Effect on ecosystem
This year’s forecast is a reminder of how closely weather patterns influence ecosystems. The potential showers in the first week of Feb could temporarily replenish groundwater and benefit vegetation. However, the sharp drop in temperatures that follows — especially with a cold wave bringing minimums below 10 degrees Celsius — can stress local wildlife and disrupt plant growth cycles, creating ripple effects across the ecosystem,” said CH Padmaja an ecologist and professor at a university in the city.
Experts have also attributed the rare combination of weather patterns that Hyderabad is experiencing to several meteorological and climatic factors, including global warming and regional anomalies. “Long-term climate change is amplifying weather extremes. Rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of anomalies such as heat waves and unseasonal rainfall. In addition, Hyderabad’s urban heat island effect — caused by concrete infrastructure absorbing and trapping heat — may also be contributing to the higher-than-usual daytime temperatures,” said T Rajashekhar, a city ecologist.
