Scientists at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) have forecast that Telangana is likely to witness more number of heat wave days this year compared to the last two years.
However, the scientists maintained that the heat wave will be ‘moderate’. Moderate heat wave indicates that there would be an increase of 5-6 degrees in the normal temperature. The normal temperature in Hyderabad is 37 degrees Celsius.
IMD Hyderabad Director, scientist Dr Y Karunakar Reddy, told TNM, “Several parts of Telangana and coastal Andhra will witness a heat wave, but it will be a moderate one.”
On Thursday, the department issued a warning that heat wave like conditions will prevail in both Telangana and Andhra on Saturday and Sunday. The department forecasts that all the districts in Telangana will witness a heat wave.
Dr Reddy added that IMD scientists would observe and review the heat wave seen in different parts of Telangana and Andhra over the weekend.
Explaining how they determine that there is a heat wave, IMD scientist Dr B Rajarao noted, “There are two ways in which we determine that there is a heat wave. One is when the temperature increases by 5-6 degrees beyond normal temperature. The other is when the temperature exceeds 43-45 degrees.”
Dr Rao observed that the number of heat wave days this year would be more compared to the past two years.
“In 2016, the number of heat wave days was 27; in 2017 it was 23. We have forecast that this year the number of heat wave days will exceed 27 days.”
He said that the northern regions of the state, such as Adilabad, Nizamabad and Ramagundem, will face heat waves this summer.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Adilabad and Ramagundem recorded the highest maximum temperature with 41 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhadrachalam, Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Medak and Nizamabad at 40 degrees Celsius. Khammam recorded the lowest maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius.
The weather department also issued a warning that thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to occur at isolated places in all the districts of Telangana on Sunday and Monday.