Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, sits on the Deccan Plateau in south-central India at around 500 metres above sea level, at approximately 17.39°N, 78.49°E. Its inland, elevated position gives it a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) — hot summers, a monsoon-fed rainy season and mild, dry winters — with the altitude taking some of the edge off the tropical heat and producing warm days and comfortably cool evenings for much of the year.

Summer, from March to June, is hot and dry, with May the hottest month — highs around 38–40°C — though the plateau elevation keeps nights cooler than on the plains and the humidity relatively low, so the heat is dry rather than steamy. Dust-laden winds and the occasional pre-monsoon thunderstorm punctuate the season before the rains arrive, offering brief relief from the building heat.

Winter, from November to February, is mild, dry and the most pleasant time, with warm days around 28–30°C and cool nights that can fall to 13–15°C. Clear skies, low humidity and comfortable warmth make this the best season, with the plateau setting giving crisp mornings and evenings that are a welcome contrast to the summer heat.

Hyderabad receives around 750–800 mm of rain a year, delivered mainly by the southwest monsoon from June to September — when it accounts for the bulk of the annual total — with some additional rain from the retreating monsoon in October. June to September is by far the wettest stretch, while the rest of the year is dry. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Hyderabad's semi-arid, rain-shadowed position on the Deccan means its rainfall is only moderate and can be unreliable, making it prone to occasional drought when the monsoon underperforms. The saving grace of its climate is the altitude, which keeps the city milder and its evenings cooler and drier than the sweltering coasts and northern plains, giving it a generally comfortable, temperate feel outside the peak of summer.

To follow any single measurement in Hyderabad more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.