Cold wave alert in 12 Telangana districts: Hyderabad shivers at 7°C - Why is the state so cold this year?

Hyderabad woke up to unusually cold weather on Thursday, with temperatures slipping to 7°C within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. (Photo: X/@Hyderabadrains)

The cold wave sweeping across Telangana is expected to intensify further, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a cold wave alert for 12 districts for Friday. The warning comes as several parts of the state reported sharp drops in temperature over the last two days.

Between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Tiryani in Kumaram Bheem Asifabad district recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 5.4°C, marking one of the coldest mornings of the season.

The IMD has issued alerts for Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mahbubabad, Jangaon, Siddipet, Sangareddy, Medak and Kamareddy.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad woke up to unusually cold weather on Thursday, with temperatures slipping to 7°C within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. Outskirts such as Moinabad and Ibrahimpatnam recorded even lower temperatures, dropping below 7°C.

The sharpest chill, however, was felt in Asifabad (5.4°C) and Rangareddy (5.5°C), the lowest readings in the last five years. The last time such cold conditions were seen was in December 2020, when temperatures in some areas fell to between 3°C and 4°C.

Hyderabad had last recorded 7°C in December 2021, while temperatures of 6°C were briefly seen in January 2022 and mid-December 2024.

Why is Telangana so cold this year?

Weather experts say the sudden dip is due to strong, dry northerly and north-easterly winds blowing into Telangana from northern and central India. Clear night skies are also allowing faster heat loss after sunset, making nights significantly colder.

“The cold spell began around six days ago, and the last two days have been the coldest so far,” TOI quoted Y V Rama Rao, senior meteorologist at the Telangana Development Planning Society, as saying.

He added that while the state typically experiences peak winter between mid-December and mid-January, this year the peak cold arrived early, starting from November.

According to weather enthusiast B Tarini, humidity levels have fallen to as low as 20%, contributing to intense winter conditions. Another cold wave is expected between December 19 and 21, he added.

According to the IMD, cold wave conditions are “very likely” in isolated pockets of the 12 listed districts. The department said the sky will remain mostly clear, with mist or haze during morning and night hours.

Minimum temperatures are expected to remain 2°C to 3°C below normal for the next three days.