Three weather systems formed over Bay of Bengal did not bring relief to Telangana
| Photo Credit: SUBYENDU GANGULY
El Nino, a key factor behind the uneven monsoon rainfall this year, contributed to a sharp deterioration in Telangana’s rainfall in August, leaving the State with a 38% deficit, its worst-performing monsoon month so far.According to month-long rainfall data from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS) compiled by The Hindu, the State in August received 134.5 mm of rainfall in August, against the normal of 215.8 mm.378.5 mm in August 2025The deficit was stark compared with the previous year. Telangana had received 378.5 mm of rainfall in August 2025, making this year’s rainfall around 64% lower than that of the corresponding month last year.G.N.R.S. Srinivas, meteorologist at the IMD Centre, Hyderabad, said the rainfall variation in August was mainly associated with El Nino, while adding that prolonged dry spells followed by spells of heavy rainfall are a normal feature of the monsoon.Deficit to surplusThe month reflected the highly uneven nature of the rainfall distribution. Telangana’s monsoon in August with rainfall more than 40% below-normal, with the deficit widening to 49% on August 3. However, widespread rainfall over the following days briefly turned the situation around, taking the cumulative rainfall to a 13% surplus by August 4.The improvement lasted only a day. The State slipped back into a 2% deficit on August 5, after which the shortfall gradually widened from August 10. It reached 39% on August 22, narrowed marginally over the following days and began increasing again towards the end of the month, finally settling at a 38% deficit on August 31.The rainfall in August was a deterioration from the preceding two monsoon months. June recorded a 12% deficit, while July was almost normal, with only a 1% deficit.Weather systems stayed too far northThe location and movement of weather systems over the Bay of Bengal played an important role in determining the State’s rainfall fortunes during the month. According to Mr. Srinivas, three weather systems formed over the Bay of Bengal in August, but all were located in the north-western Bay of Bengal and moved around northern Odisha and adjoining areas.As Telangana remained largely on the fringe of these systems, the State received little benefit from them. Some districts in northern Telangana received moderate rainfall, but the central and southern parts of the State were the worst affected by the lack of significant rain.Three-months cumulative deficit rises to 17%From June to August, the State’s normal southwest monsoon rainfall is 573.5 mm. Against this, it received 473.8 mm, resulting in a 17% deficit for the three-month period.Rain deficit sharper in Telangana’s urban areasThe deficit was sharper across the State’s major urban areas. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) together recorded 359.6 mm of rainfall from June to August, against the normal of 459.7 mm, resulting in a 22% deficit. Published - August 31, 2026 12:47 pm IST
