Cool start for searing summer ahead in Andhra Pradesh Premium
The Hindu
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority cautions the public in view of the predicted rise in temperatures, asks people to take necessary precautions while venturing outdoors during the day
The early arrival of the pre-monsoon season has brought showers and cloud cover to most parts of the State in mid-March. However, the dip in the temperature is only a presage of a searing summer ahead, warn weathermen.
The weather is expected to be cool with rainfall and thunderstorms for the next few days as indicated by the levels of the cyclonic circulation from Bangladesh to north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and the trough from north interior Tamil Nadu to Konkan lying at 0.9 km above the mean sea level.
However, this is going to be a temporary relief from the unforgiving summer heat that is predicted across the State in the coming weeks and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts above-normal maximum temperatures during April and May. Most districts are predicted to experience heatwave and severe heatwave conditions.
The maximum temperature of 35 o C was recorded in many places in the State in February itself and there has been a gradual rise ever since. A few days ago, Tuni of the north coastal region recorded over 38 o C, the highest maximum temperature recorded in the town in the past 10 years in the month of March. In February, the Kauthalam mandal of Kurnool recorded a maximum temperature of 39.1 o C.
Maximum temperatures in the summer have been increasing every year, and the World Bank has warned that by 2030, over 160-200 million people will likely be exposed to lethal heatwaves.
Heatwaves have been the biggest concern during summer months when many deaths were reported in the past.
Though the number of deaths caused by heatwaves and sunstroke has come down in the last few years in the State, officials urge people to take necessary precautions to avoid falling sick.