Summers will be warmer than usual in Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra; heatwaves likely

Hyderabad: Summers are expected to be warmer this year, especially in Rayalaseema and some parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, according to the Indian Meteorological Department forecast.

During the months of March, April, and May, some states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, west Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh will see a rise in the maximum temperatures. In Rayalaseema maximum temperatures will rise by 0.5 degrees Celsius. Other areas like coastal Karnataka, Vidharbha, Konkan, and most of the north-eastern states will also see a rise in temperature by 0.5 degrees. The maximum temperature recorded in Andhra Pradesh last year was 45 degrees.

Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather said, “The 0.5-degree rise in temperature is not something to worry about. The temperature will mainly rise in the north and central plains. Every year due to pre-monsoon activities temperatures dip, but this year, due to warmer conditions in the Pacific Ocean, above normal temperature is predicted.”

According to the forecast, the southern part of India, except for a few areas, will not have warmer summers than usual, but there is a 43 per cent probability of heatwaves over Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh. Telangana and coastal districts of Andhra fall under the heatwave zone and in the last year the states saw 111 deaths due to heatwaves during the months of March, April, and May. Heatwaves will also hit other states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Bihar, and Maharashtra.

“During a heatwave, especially in Andhra and Telangana, the feel-like temperature increases. If the temperature is around 39 degrees, it will feel like 45. This is due to humidity coming from the Bay of Bengal. Similar conditions can be expected in the coming season from May to the first week of June.”