Why are temperatures rising in A.P. and Telangana?
Context: Temperatures in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are rising due to their tropical location, rocky terrain, lack of water bodies, minimal summer agriculture, deforestation, and delayed monsoon, making them highly prone to heatwaves. Important Pointers: ➤Geographical Factors
Location near the Tropic of Cancer: The Sun is almost vertically overhead during summer, leading to high solar radiation and heating.
Part of the Torrid Zone (Tropical Zone): Naturally hot and humid conditions.
Telangana is landlocked: No major water bodies to moderate temperature, leading to a continental climate with extreme daytime heating.
The interior districts of A.P. lack the moderating influence of the sea, leading to a sharp temperature rise.
➤Topographical & Soil Factors
Large parts of Telangana and A.P. lie on the rocky Deccan Plateau with black soil that absorbs and retains more heat.
Less vegetation and low green cover lead to minimal shade and a cooling effect from trees and plants.
➤Evaporative Cooling Deficiency
Sparse agriculture and limited irrigation in summer; Low soil moisture with minimal evaporative cooling.
Unlike the Indo-Gangetic Plains, rocky terrain and lack of irrigation fail to suppress heatwaves effectively.
Loss of forest cover (A.P. lost 138.66 sq km; Telangana 100.42 sq km) reduces evapotranspiration, worsening local temperatures.
➤Climatic Factors
Low pre-monsoon rainfall (March–May): Fewer clouds and more sunshine and direct heating.
Monsoon onset is late (after June 10): Longer dry heat exposure.
➤Heatwave Incidence
In May 2025, 17 A.P. districts recorded >41°C, and all 33 Telangana districts crossed 40°C.
Adilabad (Telangana) recorded 44°C on April 21, 2025.
➤Institutional Gaps
Lack of real-time early warning systems for heatwaves based on hourly observations hampers mitigation.
Need for differentiated heat risk analysis (dry vs humid heat) for localised heatwave response.