The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for areas in Telangana in anticipation of the impact of Cyclone Michaung. The cyclone is expected to bring heavy rains, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds to many districts in the state. The forecast indicates that East Telangana will witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, while the rest of the state, including Hyderabad, can expect moderate to light rainfall.
On December 5, 2023, heavy to very heavy rainfall, including extremely heavy rainfall (exceeding 204.4 mm), is anticipated in isolated parts of Telangana. Specifically, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Khammam districts are highly likely to experience such intense rainfall on that day. An Orange alert has been issued for December 6, 2023, with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated locations in Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Warangal, and Hanmakonda.
Contrarily, Hyderabad is expected to receive light to moderate rains on both December 5 and 6, 2023. The minimum temperatures in Telangana are projected to be 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal this week due to easterly winds and cloudy conditions.
As of 8:30 am on December 4, 2023, Cyclonic storm Michaung, located over the west central and adjoining southwestern Bay of Bengal, intensified into a severe cyclone. It was situated at latitude 13.3°N and longitude 81.0°E, approximately 90 km east-northeast of Chennai, 170 km southeast of Nellore, 200 km northeast of Puducherry, 300 km south-southeast of Bapatla, and 320 km south of Machilipatnam. The cyclone is expected to gradually intensify and move northwards, almost parallel to the coast of South Andhra Pradesh. The forecast indicates that the cyclonic storm will make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam, near Bapatla, on the morning of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.
