Hyderabad: Two months into the southwest monsoon season, Telangana has received 342.1 mm of rainfall, which is just 4% below the average of 357.9 mm. While the overall picture shows relatively stable monsoon performance, there are stark regional disparities in rainfall distribution.Districts such as Nirmal (-29%), Nizamabad (-19%), Jagtial (-24%), and Mancherial (-29%) continue to record deficient rainfall, leaving large parts of these agrarian zones parched. The situation is most alarming in Jagtial and Mancherial, where cumulative rainfall is almost a third below normal levels. Meteorologists attribute this to weakened monsoon currents in northern Telangana and uneven weather patterns, which have led to intermittent dry spells and low rainfall.“In contrast, a few southern districts received more than their fair share of rain. Mulugu, Nagarkurnool and Vikarabad reported excess rainfall, with the latter recording a surplus of 33%,” said Y V Rama from the Telangana Development Planning Society.Meanwhile, Hyderabad received 256.2 mm of rain, compared to an average of 278.1 mm, which is an 8% shortfall. This keeps the city within the ‘normal’ range according to the Telangana Development Planning Society. However, meteorologists say that the concern lies not only in the numbers, but also in the erratic pattern. “The rainfall has been inconsistent. Long dry spells are followed by intense bursts of rain, which lead to waterlogging but don’t adequately recharge groundwater,” said K V M Sharma from Skymet, an independent weather forecasting agency.Rangareddy, which surrounds much of Hyderabad’s urban sprawl, recorded excess rainfall, while districts such as Kamareddy, Nalgonda and Suryapet fell well within the normal range. In general, the southern and central parts of the state appear better placed in terms of rainfall sufficiency.With another two months of monsoon season remaining, weather experts suggest that the state may still bridge the gap if active monsoon phases pick up in August. “Scattered thunderstorms are likely to begin around Aug 5 or 6. However, widespread rainfall is expected to increase in intensity from Aug 7 or 8, with active monsoon conditions setting in soon after,” said Balaji T, also known as the weatherman of Telangana.
