HYDERABAD: The city fell to 18ºC on Thursday, the lowest this month, giving residents an early feel of the incoming winter. This was 2ºC below normal for this time of the year, weather officials said. Last year, the mercury had stayed at 19.8ºC.
However, there was a sharp rise in day temperatures in the city — the maximum temperature has been hovering around the 33ºC-mark.
The state is slowly transiting from the monsoon to winter, which will completely set in by November; The southwest monsoon will withdraw by Saturday. Light to moderate rain is expected as part of the northeast monsoon.
Warm days as Skies are clear: IMD
Indian Meteorological Department-Hyderabad director Y.K. Reddy said the days were warm because the skies were clear, and the ground was absorbing more radiation from the sun. He said there was no indication that the winter could be colder than normal.
Deccan Chronicle had reported earlier that the above-normal rainfall this year could result in a colder winter.
Mr A. Dharmaraju, scientist at the Hyderabad IMD, said, “Winter temperatures are forecast based on five factors, of which the monsoon is one. It is a general phenomenon that if the rainfall is intense, the winter will be severe too. There is no direct correlation between the rains and winter.”
Blowing Hot & Cold
- The highest maximum temperature in a decade was recorded on October 6, 2014, at 36ºC.
- The lowest temperature ever recorded in recent years in October was 13.6ºC on October 25, 2009.
- The all-time record is 11.7ºC, on October 26, 1968.
