Severe heatwave alert for 89 mandals in Andhra Pradesh today

IMD forecasts severe heatwave in Andhra Pradesh, with temperatures set to rise to 45 degrees Celsius in some areas.

After a brief spell of relief from blistering heat in the State, temperatures are set to rise again in the next three days as per the forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued a ‘severe heatwave’ alert (red) for 89 mandals in the State on March 27 and for 36 mandals on March 28. Most of these mandals fall under the districts of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Alluri Sitarama Raju(ASR) and Parvathipuram Manyam.

The APSDMA has predicted that the daytime temperatures in Chintur and Kunavaram in ASR district will touch 45 degrees Celsius. A red alert is in place for these two mandals. According to its forecast, many places in Kakinada and NTR district too would see their maximum temperatures touching 44 degrees Celsius. In Vijayawada, it is expected to be around 43 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has forecast dry and hot weather for South Coastal Andhra Pradesh until April 3, except for March 30 and 31 when light rain is expected. One or two places in North Coastal A.P. may receive light to moderate rain between March 30 and April 3. There is no rain forecast for Rayalaseema.

As per observed temperatures on Thursday, the highest of 41.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Kurnool, which is not too great a deviation from the normal. All other stations in Rayalaseema too recorded around 40 degrees Celsius.

As per the APSDMA, the temperatures in Rayalaseema are likely to hover around 41 to 42 degrees Celsius on March 28 too and no alert has been given for this region. Most of the alerts have been issued for the NCAP and SCAP.