From Freezing Nights to Blazing Afternoons: Telangana’s Climate Turns Unpredictable

Hyderabad: The city of Hyderabad and the state of Telangana are witnessing extreme diurnal temperature variations, with sharp contrasts between daytime highs and nighttime lows. This phenomenon, driven by the region’s unique geographical and climatic conditions, is impacting daily life, health, and agriculture.

Geographical and Climatic Causes

Experts attribute these sharp temperature swings to Telangana’s location on the Deccan plateau. The plateau’s dry air and low humidity levels enable rapid heat loss at night and intense warming during the day. Dr. K. Nagaratna, Head of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Hyderabad, explained, “The Deccan plateau is prone to rapid cooling during nighttime and heating during the daytime. The cold winds from surrounding regions also play a key role, creating unique weather patterns not observed in other parts of southern or northern India.”

According to Dr. Nagaratna, Hyderabad’s high daytime temperatures and sudden nighttime dips are being further intensified by unusually low humidity levels.

Record-Low Humidity Levels and Continued Extremes

Weather forecaster T. Balaji, popularly known for his accurate predictions on social media, highlighted that Hyderabad recorded a humidity level of just 8% on January 21, the lowest in two years. He likened the situation to desert-like conditions and predicted that the trend would persist throughout January and potentially into February.

“Residents should prepare for continued sharp drops in nighttime temperatures and scorching afternoons. This weather pattern is a stark reminder of the region’s susceptibility to extreme diurnal variations,” Balaji warned.

Temperature Trends Across Telangana

Recent data from the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS) underscores the extent of these fluctuations. On January 21, daytime temperatures soared to 38°C in some areas, while nighttime temperatures fell to as low as 6.9°C.

Notable examples of temperature differences include:

• Moinabad: 8.1°C (night) to 38.0°C (day)
• Shabad: 8.4°C (night) to 36.3°C (day)
• Rajendranagar: 9.2°C (night) to 34.8°C (day)
• Kohir (Sangareddy): 6.9°C (night) to 33.4°C (day)

These sharp variations are creating significant challenges for residents, forcing them to adapt to drastically different weather conditions within the span of a single day.

Impact on Health and Daily Life

The extreme fluctuations are taking a toll on public health and daily routines. Local medical experts are urging residents to take precautions against respiratory illnesses, which are becoming more common due to the cold nights and dry air. Farmers, too, are grappling with the effects of this weather on crops, as rapid temperature changes stress plants and disrupt irrigation schedules.

Future Implications and Research Needs

As extreme diurnal variations persist, weather experts emphasize the need for deeper research into the long-term impacts of such patterns. “These temperature swings may intensify in the future due to changes in climate and urbanization. We need to closely monitor their effects on agriculture, health, and infrastructure,” said Dr. Nagaratna.

For now, residents are bracing for more weeks of sharp temperature contrasts as Telangana continues to experience one of its most extreme weather phases in recent years.