HYDERABAD: With weathermen predicting a break in monsoon during the first week of August, all hopes are pinned on the rains expected from July 18, to cover the rain deficit seen in various districts. Presently, even as Telangana is one month into the monsoon season, 21 districts are facing a deficit.
Hyderabad is facing a deficit of -29%, while the highest deficit has been reported from Khammam at -45%. This is in sharp contrast to most states in north India, which saw excess rains.
"The break phase is when the monsoon axis which usually passes through northern plains, Odisha and Rajasthan, shifts to the Himalayas. With this shift in the monsoon axis, the bulk of rains also shifts to that region. The core monsoon areas like Telangana then see a break in monsoon. This year weather models suggest it may happen sometime in August first week or mid month so the next 15 days are crucial for the state," said
Mahaboob Ali Khan, a weather observer.
A senior official from
India Meteorological Department (
IMD) further said that this year the first half of monsoon appears to be washed out for the state and rest of south India due to cyclone Biparjoy. "Firstly the monsoon got delayed and after that very few weather systems have formed to bring rains, as compared to last year. We will have to see how the next two weeks pan out for monsoons in south India," said the official.