Extreme Weather Events in Telangana During July (2013 - 2023)

Telangana, located in southern India, has experienced extreme weather events over the past decade. These events, ranging from record-high temperatures to unprecedented rainfall, highlight the region's vulnerability to climate variability and change. This article overviews these extreme weather events, focusing on July from 2013 to 2023.

Temperature Extremes

Several stations across Telangana have recorded exceptionally high temperatures over the past decade. Notably, Adilabad experienced a scorching 42.8°C on July 15, 2019. Similarly, Hanamkonda recorded 40.2°C on July 3, 2014, and Khammam saw temperatures soar to 40.0°C on July 11, 2019. These extreme temperatures have had significant impacts on the local population, agriculture, and overall environment.

Station	Extreme Max (°C)	Year	Date	Lowest Min (°C)	Year	Date
Adilabad	42.8	2019	15	18.8	2018	6
Bhadrachalam	38.0	2019	17	18.8	2021	2
Hanamkonda	40.2	2014	3	21.0	2023	21,28
Hyderabad	38.0	2014	2	20.0	2022	13
Khammam	40.0	2019	11	19.4	2017	18
Mahabubnagar	38.3	2015	14	21.5	2016	23
Medak	39.0	2014	3	18.8	2020	10
Nalgonda	40.4	2014	2	19.0	2020	16
Nizamabad	38.9	2014	3	21.5	2021	24
Ramagundam	40.0	2014	3	21.8	2014	22

Conversely, the region has also seen record-low temperatures during July. For instance, Adilabad experienced a low of 18.8°C on July 6, 2018, and Medak recorded a similar low of 18.8°C on July 10, 2020. These lower-than-usual temperatures can disrupt normal life and affect crop yields, demonstrating the wide temperature fluctuations the region faces.

Record Rainfall

Telangana has witnessed some of its heaviest rainfall events in the last decade during July. In 2022, Nizamabad recorded an astonishing 890.7 mm of rainfall, with 138.4 mm falling on a single day (July 13). Hanamkonda experienced 795.5 mm of rainfall in July 2023, including an unprecedented 242.2 mm on July 27. These heavy rainfalls often lead to flooding, causing damage to infrastructure, homes, and agricultural lands.

Station	Rainfall (mm)	Year	Date	Heavy Rainfall (mm)	Year	Date
Adilabad	825.2	2022	N.A	174.0	2022	13
Bhadrachalam	576.7	2023	27	138.0	2023	27
Hanamkonda	795.5	2023	27	242.2	2023	27
Hyderabad	371.6	2022	23	84.6	2022	23
Khammam	534.8	2023	27	198.6	2023	27
Mahabubnagar	364.1	2020	3	131.6	2020	3
Medak	662.5	2023	23	192.0	2022	23
Nalgonda	640.6	2022	23	192.0	2022	23
Nizamabad	890.7	2022	13	138.4	2022	13
Ramagundam	830.6	2022	10	228.3	2022	10

These rainfall extremes underline the increasing intensity of monsoon rains, contributing to severe flooding and waterlogging in several parts of the state.

Data Gaps and Anomalies

While compiling this data, it is important to note some gaps and anomalies. For instance, Adilabad lacks data for 2016, and Bhadrachalam has no data available for 2014. Similarly, Hanamkonda and Nalgonda lack data for 2016, and Khammam has missing data for both 2014 and 2015.