Climate change affects Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

Hyderabad: Climate change is as much a local worry as it is global. Over the years minimum and maximum temperatures have been rising in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This year Hyderabad and other parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are yet to experience the expected drop in temperatures for winter.

Minimum temperatures are above normal by 2-7ºC in Telangana and 2-4ºC in AP. For example the normal minimum temperature in Bhadrachalam in TS is 17ºC but the town recorded 24ºC on Tuesday. Summer temperatures this year were abnormal for most part. Hyderabad recorded one of the hottest days in the past five decades at 44.3ºC on May 22, with the maximum ever recorded temperature being 45.5ºC. Heat waves this year caused deaths of more than 2,000 people in both states with most of the deaths recorded in AP.

The mercury touched 48ºC in some parts of Telangana in May, which was unheard of until 2013. In AP maximum temperatures hovered close to 47ºC, close to highest ever recorded temperatures. The IMD’s 2014 annual report officially declared that the year was hottest ever in the last 40 years and that maximum temperatures for most part of 2014 stayed higher than 1-2ºC in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and most parts of the country. A report by IMD of climate change trends across the country between 1951 and 2010 revealed that winters have been becoming warmer in AP and TS states over the years as maximum temperatures have been rising by 0.02ºC in winter and also in post-monsoon months. Minimum temperatures have been rising by 0.02ºC per year in November and by 0.01ºC in December February and March.

In summer maximum temperature has been increasing by 0.01ºC but in May and July it has been increasing by 0.02ºC per year. Recently there have been reports by World Meteorological Organisation that 2015 is likely to be the hottest ever year on record and 2016 might be even hotter. However, there have been no such reports on it by the IMD yet.