Telangana to see milder winter and lower rainfall due to El Nino, says IMD
The state recorded an overall 18 percent deficit in monsoon rainfall, prompting the government to prepare drought proposals for affected areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a milder winter with above-normal temperatures in October due to the El Nino phenomenon. In its winter outlook, the weather agency also predicted that rainfall between October and December is likely to remain below normal across the country.
The announcement comes as Telangana ended its monsoon season with an 18 percent rainfall deficit. Out of the state's 33 districts, 19 recorded deficit rainfall while 14 received normal rainfall. Nalgonda district recorded the highest deficit at 56 percent, followed by Nirmal at 50 percent, Jogulamba Gadwal at 45 percent, and Medchal-Malkajgiri at 41 percent.
In contrast, Kamareddy, Jagtial, and Mancherial districts recorded surplus rainfall of 13 percent, 12 percent, and 9 percent respectively. The IMD attributed the overall deficit to a complete lack of low-pressure systems in June, despite seven systems forming later in the season.
In response to the dry conditions, Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to prepare proposals to identify drought-hit mandals, which are sub-district administrative units. He instructed them to assess factors like rainfall, crop sowing area, soil moisture, reservoir levels, and groundwater before submitting reports.
