Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Reel Under Heatwave as Delayed Monsoon Deepens Distress

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are enduring a fierce combination of extreme heat and erratic pre-monsoon storms on June 2, as the southwest monsoon continues to remain absent from the Telugu states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a formal weather advisory covering virtually all districts in Telangana and several coastal and inland zones of Andhra Pradesh.

The Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has placed the entirety of Telangana under a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, covering all major districts including Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, and Adilabad. Daytime temperatures across the state are expected to hover between 41°C and 45°C , with heat stress remaining critically high through afternoon hours. Nirmal recorded 46.5°C, Hanamkonda 46.4°C, Jagityal 46.3°C, and Adilabad 46.2°C in recent readings. These severe conditions are forecast to persist at least until June 3.

In Andhra Pradesh, the State Disaster Management Authority has escalated alerts in select districts. Orange alerts have been declared for NTR, Prakasam, and Nellore districts, while Krishna, Guntur, and Bapatla have been placed under lightning warnings. Districts such as Parvathipuram Manyam, East Godavari, Kadapa, and Tirupati are likely to record temperatures between 40°C and 42°C, with Achampet in Palnadu district having recently touched 44.3°C. Sporadic thunderstorms with gusty winds are expected across Anantapur, Chittoor, and Markapuram.

Several active weather systems are influencing the region, a trough extending from central Pakistan to north coastal Andhra Pradesh, a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal , and another trough from the Lakshadweep area, together producing dense cloud cover across multiple atmospheric levels.

The delayed arrival of the monsoon remains the central concern. The IMD has revised its forecast, now expecting the monsoon to reach Kerala between June 4 and June 5 , nearly four to five days behind the usual June 1 onset. Weather experts caution that its advance into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is unlikely before June 10, and there are indications it may arrive weakened, reducing initial rainfall intensity across the region.

The broader seasonal outlook offers little comfort. Below-normal rainfall is projected for the June-September monsoon season, with both states at elevated risk for above-normal heatwave days. Authorities have urged residents to avoid outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours (12 PM-4 PM), stay adequately hydrated, and remain vigilant against lightning during sudden evening storms. Farmers have been advised to monitor IMD advisories closely given the risk of erratic gusty winds damaging standing crops.