Telangana weather: Brace for heavy rain this week. Will Musi River flood Hyderabad?

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in several parts of Hyderabad for the next few days as Telangana was battered by heavy rains early Tuesday morning.

Very heavy rains, thunderstorms and strong winds are forecasted for August 15. The earlier forecast of heavy rain and thunderstorms from August 11 to 17 has now been revised to be between 13 and 16, since favourable conditions have intensified the weather. Flood-like conditions in the state are also to be expected between 13 and 16. In August, according to a forecaster on X, a low-pressure area forms over the Bay of Bengal. The Hyderabad Meteorological Centre said in a statement on Monday that there is a possibility of heavy rain across the state for the next five days.         

According to the IMD forecast, the rains are set to intensify on August 14 and peak in intensity on Independence Day. East Telangana will see the most widespread downpours.  

There is also a possibility of very heavy rain in the district in north Telangana from Wednesday onward as another low-pressure area could form over the central Bay of Bengal.       

 Hyderabad roads at a standstill

Heavy rain recorded between 150 mm and 200 mm was witnessed overnight in several districts of Telangana, like Warangal, Hanmakonda, Suryapet, and Yadadrin. Major traffic disruptions took place in Hyderabad after the Musi River overflowed, according to Times Now. 

Several streams have overflowed in villages like Bawaipalli, Khanapur and Pasupula in Koderu mandal of Nagarkurnool district. Traffic has also come to a stop in many parts, and several roads have been shut for safety. 

The rain is expected to continue as  LB Nagar, Uppal, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, Osmania University, Cantonment, Qutbullapur, Alwal, Kapra, Hakimpet and the surrounding neighbourhoods of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) are expected to have light rain and thunderstorms with surface winds below 40 kmph on Tuesday.

Light rain and thunderstorms will also be seen across Hyderabad, Jangaon, Jogulamba Gadwal, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Mahabubabad, Medak, Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Narayanpet, Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Suryapet, Vikarabad, Wanaparthy and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri.                 

A warning has been issued by the IMD on potential flooding of low-lying areas, waterlogging on roads, traffic delays, crop damage and reduced visibility during the rains. 

Residents have been advised to avoid going near water bodies, drive cautiously and keep crops covered. They have also been advised to avoid applying pesticides or fertilisers to crops during the showers.