Change in weather triggers alerts: Indian Meteorological Department

Hyderabad: Thanks to the rains, the three-day heatwave alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department and the Telangana state development planning society, both responsible for weather observations, has proved to be a damp squib. Thanks to the rains, the three-day heatwave alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department and the Telangana state development planning society, both responsible for weather observations, has proved to be a damp squib.

On May 8, the TSDPS and IMD issued a three-day heatwave warning from May 9-11, saying maximum temperatures would rise by two to three degrees Celsius above normal, and temperatures in northern Telangana would likely cross 43°C. But though May 9 began on a scorching note, moderate rain brought down day temperatures across Telangana.

Even Hyderabad, which has been touching 40°C, which is normal for May, recorded a drop by a degree. Ironically, before the three-day heatwave alert was withdrawn, IMD New Delhi issued a ‘thunderstorm with gusty winds’ alert for Telangana and Rayalaseema , with heavy to very heavy rainfall for Andhra Pradesh. In fact, a five-day rainfall alert is predicted for Telangana and AP, along with 25 states and seven Union Territories.

Indeed, along with the heat wave alert, the official IMD website is concurrently issuing a thunderstorm warning. Many who follow the website, including the media, are perplexed over the two weather alarms. An IMD officer said, “The department issues predictions on heatwaves or thunderstorms after studying indications received through our weather models.”

Questioned on the incorrect predictions, an an officer of the department said, “When storm activity is found to be gearing up, alerts are announced. Similarly, for a heat wave, if temperatures are set to rise by two-three degrees, a warning is issued. It should be noted that a thunderstorm is a summer phenomenon. Whenever there is a rise in mercury levels, the heat combines with moisture radiates back to the atmosphere to form thunderclouds, causing