Hyderabad rains: First showers of 2023 bring respite from scorching heat

HYDERABAD: Although the first rain splashes of 2023 surprised everyone on Thursday, it was a welcome relief from the sweltering heat in Hyderabad.

The city had a dramatic weather change on Thursday afternoon, with black clouds accumulating, accompanied by a chilly breeze and thunderstorms.

Weather experts had already warned netizens to be cautious between 2-4pm and to plan their travel accordingly. They also issued warnings about hailstorms in isolation pockets of the city. Many were taken aback when the Vikarabad district experienced torrential rainfall and hailstorms as predicted.

Despite the fact that the weather changed swiftly throughout the city, the first showers were seen in areas such as Manikonda, Kondapur, Lingampally, Shaikpet, Rajendranagar, Kukatpally, and Patancheru, and eventually covered the entire city.

The Indian Meteorological Department Hyderabad predicted moderate to heavy rain in Hyderabad over the next 2-3 hours. According to the IMD, hailstorms are also possible, and showers may intensify into a severe hail storm.

Weather experts predicted that the rains, which began as showers, would rapidly develop into severe storms. With the strong convergence witnessed, many portions of Central and East Telangana would definitely see severe thunderstorms, winds, and possible hailstorms from the afternoon, with the main rains falling during the night and morning, according to T Balaji, Telangana Weatherman.

Thunderstorms began to form in Telangana on Thursday afternoon, primarily in Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Rangareddy, Nagarkurnool, and a few districts of East Telangana such as Mulugu, Bhadradri, and Mancherial.

Telangana Weatherman T Balaji took to Twitter, saying, "Be ready, Hyderabad. The first showers will begin in Manikonda, Kondapur, Lingampally, Shaikpet, Rajendranagar, Kukatpally, and Patancheru in an hour and will eventually cover the entire city. Showers will begin, but will quickly intensify into a Severe Storm. High storm chances are also expected in Hyderabad beginning in the afternoon".

Orange warning for Telangana on March 16

IMD predicts an 'Orange' warning on March 16, 2023. Thunderstorms with lightning, hailstorms, and strong winds (30-40 KMPH) are quite possible in the Telangana districts of Nizamabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sircilla, Mulugu, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajigiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, and Nagarkurnool.

Thunderstorm accompanied with Lightning, Gusty winds (30-40) kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the remaining districts of Telangana.

Yellow Warning on March 17 in Telangana

Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, hailstorm and gusty winds(30-40 KMPH) very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts Nizamabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sircilla, Nalgonda, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajigiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Nagarkurnool of Telangana. Thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds (30-40 kmph) also were possible in isolated areas of Telangana's remaining districts.

Yellow Warning on March 18

Heavy rains very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts Jagityal, Rajanna Sircilla, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Warangal, Janagaon, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Vikarabad, Nagarkurnool of Telangana. Thunderstorm accompanied with Lightning Very likely to occur at isolated places in all districts of Telangana.

Yellow Warning on March 19

Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning very likely to occur at isolated places in many districts of Telangana.

Several netizens expressed delight at the dramatic change in weather and relief from the city's scorching heat over the past few days.