Even as residents of Hyderabad and Telangana experience the onset of hot weather in February, the Meteorological Department has predicted the temperature to rise further. 

Stating that the maximum temperature recorded was 3-4 degree Celsius above normal, The New Indian Express reported that Mahbubnagar recorded the highest temperature at 39 degree Celsius on Thursday followed by Hyderabad, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ramagundam, Hanmakonda, Adilabad and Bhadrachalam, which recorded 37 degree Celsius.

The TNIE report quotes an India Meteorological Department official attributing the high temperature to dry winds from the north and northwest,combined with a lack of winds from the Bay of Bengal.

The Times of India reported that Hyderabad recorded 38.7 degrees Celsius on February 23 last year, which was one degree more than the temperature recorded on Thursday.

The report also quotes a study by Osmania University, which is based on meteorological data from six decades, which shows that the city began "Accelerated warming" after 2000,  while the “extreme warming phase" started after 2010. 

Meanwhile, it was reported that the state's information technology department has launched a portal to notify residents via SMS alerts, about any possible heat waves.

"We are aiming to issue warnings at least 15 days in advance so that residents can take the required precautionary measures," state IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Skymet Weather reported that most regions of Telangana and Andhra may end up witnessing maximums temperatures between 37 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius.

While Andhra may get light rains in the first week of March, Telangana will remain dry, the report added.