Visakhapatnam: Mercury has shot up in parts of Andhra Pradesh, causing considerable discomfort for residents. With the mercury climbing between 35°C and 39°C, the streets are lined with umbrellas and scarf-covered faces. March has begun on a notably warm note, with average temperatures in the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP) regions hovering between 34°C and 38°C.
On March 3, Kurnool recorded a high of 39.5°C, nearly 2.4°C above normal. Similarly, Nandigama reached 38.8°C, exceeding the average by 2.7°C. Kurnool and Amaravati both hit 39.1°C on March 4, and by March 5, Kurnool maintained a peak of 39.5°C, with Kadapa not far behind at 38.5°C.
According to the IMD-Amaravati, maximum temperatures are projected to remain 2-4°C above normal in north coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) and Yanam on March 7. South coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) can expect similar conditions, with isolated areas experiencing hot and humid weather. From March 8 to March 10, Rayalaseema and CAP regions are also forecast to see temperatures exceeding normal levels by 2-3°C.
Even the typically cooler Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district has seen an unusual rise in temperatures, ranging from 30°C to 37°C over the past few days.
Dr S. Karuna Sagar, a scientist at IMD-Amaravati, stated that March is expected to be warmer than usual across the state, with heatwaves predicted in certain areas. The likelihood of above-normal heatwave days looms over much of the country, including Andhra Pradesh.
In Vizag city, temperatures have already surpassed 34°C in the first week of March, ushering in hot and humid days. “The rise in temperatures signals a hotter summer this year, with both days and nights feeling the heat from March onward,” observed V Ganesh, a market executive in the city.
