Rains not to stop soon
Met Dept predicts heavy downpour over next 48 hours, to intensify in last week of March
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-03-05 02:37 GMT
Hyderabad-Parts of the city and the state witnessed hailstorms on Tuesday afternoon accompanied by heavy rain, thunder and gusty winds. Flexis, hoardings and signboards at Safilguda and Tarnaka came crashing down as a result of the winds, whereas water logging at many places affected commuters. Gale winds with speeds of 30-40 knots and more were recorded in the city.
An old building located near West Marredpally check-post collapsed due to the rains. However, no injuries were reported. A political party’s banner at Safilguda collapsed due to the intensity of the winds. Kapra (39 mm), Moula Ali (36 mm), Trimulgherry (33.75 mm) and Malkajgiri (33.25 mm) recorded the highest rainfall in the city, whereas Mir Alam, Mamidipalle, Sivaramapalle, Rajendranagar and Ramachandrapuram remained unaffected (0 mm).
“Though the upper air cyclonic storm over Telangana and neighbourhood has now subdued, moisture rich winds from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal continue to flow and create instability, leading to formation of further thick cumulonimbus clouds. We have even witnesses lightening as part of this activity,” informed M. Narsimha Rao, assistant meteorologist at the Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad.
Heavy rain accompanied by gusting winds also lashed several parts of Warangal and South Telangana. Nizamabad recorded about 33 mm of rainfall. Overnight hale and gale storms on March 3 flattened maize, turmeric and potato crops in Anantapur, Nizamabad, Medak and Karimnagar.
Met officials, meanwhile, have predicted similar weather for the next 48 hours as well. “These thundershowers are an indication of pre-summer activity. They start now and are likely to intensify by the last week of March or first week of April. This thunderstorm activity results in the end of winter,” Mr Narsimha Rao added.
A heavy rainfall warning has, however, been taken off for Wednesday. The city will witness cloudy skies with rain or thundershowers, with or without hail in different parts. Whereas, light to moderate rain or thundershowers, with or without hail, will occur at a few places in Telangana and at isolated places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.