It's hottest at 4 pm in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Here is a word of caution for Hyderabadis who venture out early in the afternoon, especially during summers, assuming that the temperature has peaked for the day. Due to the city’s rocky terrain, the maximum temperature is recorded as late as at 4 pm every day. A senior scientist with the Indian Meteorological Department said, “Hyderabad is a rocky area. The land starts absorbing radiation after sunrise. Once the earth warms up, the heat starts travelling upwards in a phenomenon called long wave radiation. This heats up the air in upper layers.”

Besides, hot sun keeps increasing the temperature. Taken together, the day is at its hottest at 3.30-4 pm, he said. The day starts cooling down after that, and it is only at about sunset that the heat ebbs. This situation prevails in much of Telangana, which is not located at a great height above sea level and is landlocked. This pattern does not occur in coastal areas, including AP, where the sea breeze starts blowing inward, cooling down the land by 1.30 pm. Landlocked Rayalaseema is not so lucky, and the region tends to stay warm for longer.

So, how is this summer going to be like? There is hope with the El Nino — the heating up of the South Pacific which causes hot weather and poor rains in India — easing off. That also improves the prospects for rainfall, though El Nino is only one of the 16 factors that are said to influence the monsoon. The IMD calculates these 16 parameters in April and makes its monsoon forecast. Warm winter is one of these parameters.