Well, it looks like the storm we were all watching has decided to take a bit of a detour. The much-talked-about Cyclone Dathav, which had everyone on edge, has lost some of its punch. According to an official announcement from the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre on Monday, what was shaping up to be a formidable cyclone has now weakened into a severe depression. But don't let your guard down just yet—this system is still packing enough moisture and chill to make its presence felt across two states.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Cyclone Dathav, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, has weakened into a severe depression.
- ✓ Heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted for South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
- ✓ Telangana will see light rains followed by a significant drop in temperature and cold winds.
- ✓ Minimum temperatures in northern Telangana districts like Adilabad and Nirmal are expected to drop to 14°C.
- ✓ The system is currently located about 50 km from Chennai and 200 km from Nellore.
The Journey of 'Dathav': From Cyclone to Depression
So, what exactly happened out there in the Bay of Bengal? The system, which was initially tracking close to the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coasts, started to lose steam on Sunday evening. By Monday morning, it had officially been reclassified as a severe depression. It began moving northwards overnight and, as of the latest update, has centered itself over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
To get a better sense of its location, the weather department has pinpointed it about 50 kilometers east-southeast of Chennai and roughly 200 kilometers south-southeast of Nellore. The forecast suggests it will continue to weaken over the next 12 hours as it moves along the coast. The expectation is that it will downgrade to a normal depression by the time it gets near the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coastline, passing about 30 kilometers from the Chennai shore. It's a significant downgrade, but the effects are still rippling outwards.
A Tale of Two States: Rain for One, a Chill for the Other
The impact of this weather system is playing out very differently in Telangana versus Andhra Pradesh. While one state is preparing for a drenching, the other is pulling out its blankets. It’s a fascinating split in weather patterns from a single depression.
Andhra Pradesh Braces for a Soaking
For Andhra Pradesh, the story is all about rain. Officials have issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours, particularly in South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. If you're in the districts of Prakasam, Nellore, or Tirupati, you can expect scattered moderate to heavy showers. It's definitely time to keep the umbrella handy.
The rain isn't just limited to those areas, though. A wider region, including Kakinada, Konaseema, East and West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, and Palnadu, is also on the list for light to moderate rainfall. The bottom line is that a significant portion of the state is in for a wet spell thanks to the lingering moisture from the weakened Dathav system.
Telangana's Forecast: Light Showers and a Chilly Surprise
Meanwhile, in Telangana, the forecast is a bit different. On Tuesday, some parts of the state can expect light to moderate rains. But the bigger story, according to officials, is what comes after. The weather is expected to become completely dry starting from Wednesday, but that's when you'll really start to feel the change. The maximum temperatures are predicted to hover around 28 degrees Celsius, with minimums dipping to 17 degrees in many places.
The real headline for Telangana is the cold. The depression is pulling strong northerly winds across the entire state, causing a sudden and noticeable drop in temperature. This isn't just a minor chill; it's a significant cold snap that's already causing some discomfort for residents, especially during the evenings and early mornings.
Feeling the Chill: A Closer Look at the Cold Snap
This isn't just a general feeling of cold; we have the numbers to back it up. In the northern districts of Telangana, the drop is particularly sharp. In places like Adilabad, Kamareddy, Nirmal, Nizamabad, and Komaram Bheem, the nighttime minimum temperatures have already plummeted to around 14 degrees Celsius. That's a serious temperature drop that you can definitely feel.
Even in other districts across the state, the cold has noticeably increased at night. This sudden change has people bundling up and has caused some difficulty, as the transition from milder weather to this biting cold has been quite abrupt. It seems the main legacy of Dathav for Telangana won't be the rain, but rather this blast of chilly air sweeping down from the north.
Rainfall in the Last 24 Hours
Even before the main effects, some light rainfall has already been recorded across Telangana in the last 24 hours. The numbers show scattered showers, giving a little preview of the moisture associated with the system. For instance, Kadaparthi in the Hanamkonda district recorded 5.8 mm of rain, which was the highest in the state during that period.
Other areas also saw some precipitation. Dammugudem in the Khammam district received 3.3 mm, while Charla saw 3.0 mm. Similarly, Nirmal Rural got 2.8 mm, Burgampadu recorded 2.3 mm, and Mohammednagar in the Kamareddy district received 2.1 mm. These aren't huge amounts, but they confirm the presence of the system's outer bands as it moved through the region.
Conclusion
So, the bottom line is that Cyclone Dathav might not have made landfall as a powerful storm, but its influence is undeniable. It has morphed into a weather event with a dual personality: bringing heavy, soaking rains to parts of Andhra Pradesh while ushering in a sharp, surprising cold snap across Telangana. The key takeaway is to stay aware of your local forecast, as the effects are very different depending on where you are. For those in AP, it's about staying dry, and for everyone in Telangana, it's time to find those warm clothes.
