Cold wave descends on Telangana; 'below normal' chill likely to grip Hyderabad for next 72 hours

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Hyderabad centre has forecast that the cold conditions are likely to persist. (Photo: X/@Hyderabadrains)

A severe cold spell has enveloped Telangana, with temperatures plummeting to single digits across the state over the past 24 hours. The capital, Hyderabad, awoke to a sharp chill, while several districts recorded minimums as low as 6.6 degrees Celsius, according to data from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS).

The mercury in Hyderabad and its surrounding regions fell sharply between Sunday evening and the early hours of Monday. The city’s lowest minimum of 8.4 degrees Celsius was recorded at Hyderabad Central University, Serilingampally.

Other city locations, as reported by the TGDPS, saw considerable dips: Rajendranagar at 10.1 degrees Celsius, Alwal and BHEL at 10.6 degrees Celsius and areas like RC Puram, Neredmet and Chandanagar hovering around 12 degrees Celsius.

However, the chill was far more pronounced beyond the capital. Districts experienced significantly lower temperatures, ranging between 6.6 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius at multiple locations.

Sangareddy and Kumram Bheem Asifabad recorded a joint low of 6.6 degrees Celsius. Adilabad followed closely at 6.8 degrees Celsius, with Vikarabad (7.8 degrees Celsius), Kamareddy (8.2 degrees Celsius), Nizamabad (8.4 degrees Celsius) and Nirmal (9 degrees Celsius) also in the grip of the cold wave.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Hyderabad centre has forecast that the cold conditions are likely to persist. In its forecast, the IMD indicated that "Minimum temperatures are likely to be below normal by 3 degree Celsius to 4 degree Celsius, at isolated pockets over Telangana during next 2 to 3 days."

Specifically, the IMD stated that minimums in districts including Adilabad, Kamareddy, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Medak and Nirmal would range between 5 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius until at least December 11. Temperatures in the rest of the state’s districts are expected to hover between 11 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius.