3 heatwave days in April, highest in last four years

HYDERABAD: Telangana has recorded three days of ‘heatwave’ this month — when temperatures were 45C or above — making this April one of the worst in the past four years already. According to data from India Meteorological Department (IMD), there was no heatwave in April in 2020 and 2023. However, two days of heatwave were recorded each in 2021 and 2022.
While Hyderabad has not experienced a heatwave in recent times, nearly all the wards have been recording temperatures above 40Celsius over the last two weeks.
Weather experts suggest that this summer may feel harsher as El Nino is in force. According to an analysis by Telangana State Development Planning Society’s (TSDPS) annual weather report from 2023, in the last 10 years, the maximum temperatures during the day were cooler between 2020-2023. During this period, temperatures were lower by -1.1 degree Celsius as compared to before.
In fact, in 2023 day time temperatures were -1.8 degree Celsius lesser than previous years. “The slightly cooler day temperatures during the summer with zero heatwave conditions in the last three years were due to strong La Nina conditions,” said the report. In 2024, however, these weather conditions have changed.
Elaborating, Mahesh Palawat of private forecasting agency Skymet, said, “Telangana this year had a steady run with hot weather and heatwave owing to an anticyclone which pulled in dry south-easterly winds into the state. This air is inland air which is largely dry and devoid of any moisture making temperatures soar. Such factors coupled with overall climate change, wherein spring as a season has become negligible, is causing the perception of heat to be higher.” He said for cities, even if temperatures are very high to cause heatwave, factors like concretisation and culling of trees may make one feel hotter every year.