The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe heat and heatwave conditions in many mandals in the State this summer.
The officials cautioned that the temperature may cross 45° Celsius in many places, and asked people to take steps to prevent sunstroke deaths. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Relief Commissioner M.V. Seshagiri Rao released the brochures on dos and dont’s during summer.
In a joint press conference organised here on Friday, Mr. Rao and officials of the IMD, AP Space Applications Centre and AP State Development Planning Society warned that seven districts in the State are likely to face severe heatwave conditions.
“Andhra Pradesh experienced intensive heatwave for three weeks during 2015, 2016 and 2017, and more than 45°C heat and heatwaves were recorded in many mandals, and moderate heat was recorded in other places. This year, 52% chances are there to have normal and above normal heatwave conditions in coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next three months,” IMD Director and scientist Y.K. Reddy said.
This year, an average of one degree centigrade and above temperatures and heatwaves are likely to occur for about 40 days, Mr. Reddy said.
“Prakasam, Nellore, East and West Godavari, Guntur, Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts are prone to heatwave in 2018. Heatwave may occur severely if low pressure is formed,” the Director said.
