Sweltering days begin early in Andhra Pradesh

Mercury levels rising in Andhra Pradesh, with temperatures above normal, indicating an early start to summer.

It is only the first week of February, but mercury levels have already started rising above normal levels in some parts of the State, especially in coastal areas. People are reeling under high temperatures and humid weather conditions, as on Wednesday, February 5.

People in the city have already started taking out their umbrellas to beat the heat during the day and turning on air conditioners to stay cool indoors as temperature crossed the 30C mark with Waltair recording a maximum temperature of 30.9C and Visakhapatnam airport area recording 33.8C.

Speaking to The Hindu, Polaki Srinivasa Rao, Executive Engineer, Madhurawada Zone, Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited, said, “Yes, power consumption has also started increasing in the last few days due to rising temperatures in the city. There is no shortage of power, but people should use electricity prudently. We are also preparing to provide an uninterrupted power supply to consumers in the coming summer. A 33kv line has been sanctioned for the Madhurawada zone, where the power consumption is high due to increasing residential properties and IT industries. We are currently working on it.”

The current conditions indicate that summer will start early, with maximum temperatures rising by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal in February. According to the India Meteorological Department, the summer season officially begins on March 1 and ends on May 31, with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June.

India recorded its hottest February in 2023 since records began to be maintained in 1901, with an average maximum temperature of 29.54C.

“If the current trend continues the entire month, 2025 may have the chance of seeing the warmest February, maybe breaking the record of 2023 February. However, it all depends on various weather factors and wind patterns. It is too early to predict,” IMD Director (Amaravati) S. Stella said.

According to Ms. Stella, the maximum temperatures are likely to be 2C to 4C above normal in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and south coastal Andhra Pradesh and 2C to 3C above normal in the Rayalaseema region until February 7.