Meteorologists warning of soaring temperatures and heatwave-like conditions
Hyderabad Telangana and most of India is staring at an unusually hot March with meteorologists warning of soaring temperatures and heatwave-like conditions across the state. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures in several districts are expected to touch or even cross the 40°C mark: On Friday, Mancherial recorded 39.2°C, highest in the state.
The IMD said March this year could turn out be the hottest in several decades.
Perhaps as an indicator of things to come, the maximum temperature had crossed 38ºC in many districts, and 36ºC in some areas of the city in what turned out to be an unusually warm February.
According to the IMD, India is likely to witness above-normal maximum temperatures in most parts between March and May. It said there could be more ‘heatwave’ days, when the temperature is more than normal over several days, across most parts. It also said rainfall in most parts would be normal in March.
Forecasts suggest a steady rise in mercury levels from March 2, pushing daytime temperatures into extreme heatwave territory. The dip in temperatures over the past week will be short-lived, going by the IMD predictions.
Dr. K Nagaratna, Head Meteorologist at IMD Hyderabad, noted that warmer-than-usual conditions were likely to persist in the summer. She said that significantly higher temperatures are likely in March.
“Preliminary observations indicate above-normal heat across the country, and Telangana will not be an exception. A more detailed forecast will be available in the coming days, but it is clear that conditions will remain hotter than usual,” she said.
A special alert has already been issued for parts of coastal Karnataka, Konkan, and Kerala, where daytime temperatures recently touched 40°C. Mumbai and regions of coastal Maharashtra, along with Goa, have also reported extreme heat conditions as early as February 25. These trends indicate that 2025 may witness one of the hottest pre-monsoon seasons in recent years.
According to the Telangana State Development and Planning Society (TGDPS) data, multiple districts are experiencing high temperatures. On Friday, Mancherial recorded the highest at 39.2°C. Komaram Bheem, Nirmal, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Adilabad saw temperatures touching 38.9°C. Hyderabad itself has been experiencing soaring temperatures, with forecasts showing a steady increase in the coming days.
