Telangana faces dry conditions with significant rainfall unlikely in July

Dark clouds gather over the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad amid the El Niño-hit monsoon in Hyderabad on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

While Mumbai and several parts of Maharashtra grapple with heavy rainfall, Telangana – including Hyderabad – is likely to remain relatively dry for the rest of July, with weak monsoon conditions and no significant low pressure systems expected to form over the Bay of Bengal, according to meteorologists at the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS).

A shift in precipitation activity

“July is typically one of the wettest months of the season, but this year’s rain activity has shifted to central, western and northern India, including Maharashtra and Gujarat,” senior weather consultant YV Rama Rao informed in an exclusive interaction on Friday (July 10, 2026).

Monsoon onset and progress slow in Telangana

Mr. Rao noted that the onset of southwest monsoon over Telangana was delayed and weak this year. It entered on 8 June, but progress stalled and it was not until 23 June that it finally covered all districts. “What normally takes three to four days took almost 15 days this time,” he explained.

Typically, after its onset, the monsoon weakens briefly as it moves northward before regaining strength through low pressure systems forming over the Bay of Bengal. These systems usually bring widespread rainfall to Telangana. However, this process has largely failed to materialize this year.

A pattern not seen in the last 10 years

“It is quite unusual and we have not seen such a pattern in the last 10 years,” Mr Rao said. “During the last five to six years, July and August have generally seen good rainfall, although June has been light. However, this year, Telangana may see only light or scattered thundershowers for the next two to three weeks driven by localized heat and humidity. More significant rainfall is likely only if weather systems develop closer to coastal Andhra Pradesh.”

“With El Niño – characterized by warming in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that tends to suppress monsoon activity over India – strengthening, and with neither the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) nor the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) providing favorable conditions, rainfall has remained scarce,” he said.

Deficit rainfall in 20 districts of Telangana

Rainfall figures reflect a deficit. Against the normal cumulative rainfall of 6.5 cm expected till July 10, Telangana received only 4.3 cm compared to 6.6 cm in the same period last year – a deficit of 33%. Only 13 districts have recorded normal rainfall so far, 20 districts remain in the deficit category.

From June 1 to July 10, Telangana received 15.8 cm of rainfall against the normal of 19.5 cm, a deficit of 19%. In Hyderabad, the cumulative rainfall was 11.3 cm against the normal 15.6 cm, a 28% shortfall. Clear skies also pushed temperatures above normal, with day temperatures at 34°C-38°C in the districts and 33°C-36°C in Hyderabad.

Published – 10 Jul 2026 17:25 IST