Cyclone Montha has wreaked havoc across the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, tragically claiming lives and devastating vast agricultural lands. This powerful weather system delivered a staggering 17.5 cm of rainfall in October, nearly double the usual amount, and marked the second-highest precipitation for the month in over five decades, as reported by meteorologists from the Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS).
A Glimpse into the Past: The 1974 Record
In an exclusive interview, senior weather consultant Y.V. Rama Rao highlighted that the absolute record for October rainfall in the region stands at 25.1 cm, set way back in 1974. He emphasized that the extraordinary downpour this year is solely due to Cyclone Montha. A comparable weather event in 2020 saw a cyclone deliver 16.3 cm of rain, representing an 83% surplus at the time.
The intensity of Montha was particularly felt in Bheemdevpally village, Hanamkonda district, which experienced an astonishing 42.2 cm of rainfall in a single day on October 30. This figure far outstripped the previous daily record of 32.5 cm, set in Ghatkesar (Medchal-Malkajgiri district) on October 14, 2020. Considering that October typically sees an average of just 9 cm of rain, and last year recorded a mere 6.5 cm, this year’s deluge represents an astounding 171% increase above the norm.
A Wet Monsoon Season: The Bigger Picture
Looking at the broader monsoon season from June 1 to October 31, Telangana as a whole accumulated 116.4 cm of rain, a significant 40% more than its usual 83.8 cm. Even within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, rainfall reached 101.5 cm, marking a 38% increase over the typical 73.5 cm, underscoring the widespread and intense nature of this year’s wet spell.