Cloud cover gives Hyderabad respite from heat

HYDERABAD: In what came as a big surprise not only to denizens but also weather experts, the city temperature took an unexpected plunge on Monday and recorded a bearable 38.4 degree Celsius, a sharp 5.5 degree decline from the 43.9 degree Celsius recorded on May 23.

The met department, which had predicted two more days of severe heat on Sunday withdrew its state-wide warning on heat wave, saying an upper air cyclonic circulation formed over northwest Bay and adjoining west central Bay off Orissa-Andhra coast caused the cloud cover and drop in temperature.

After days of severe heat wave conditions which saw around 500 sunstroke deaths in just three days in the state, the highest such toll in recent recorded history, temperatures dropped by 2-3 degrees in many parts of the state and officials said they are likely to remain the same during the next 48 hours.

Parts of Telangana, including Hyderabad remained cloudy on Monday with reports of light drizzle from Gandipet and Kondapur and weathermen have forecast rainfall in some parts of the state during the next 48 hours.

"Heatwave conditions have abated due to the upper air cyclonic circulation," said M Narasimha Rao, assistant meteorologist, Met department. The state was in the grip of severe heat wave conditions from May 18 to May 26.