The State continued to reel under scorching weather on Tuesday with mercury crossing the 46°C mark in coastal and Rayalaseema districts. But scattered rainfall and thundershowers in Chittoor and most of the coastal districts caused temperatures to dip by several degrees and brought the much-needed respite.
According to the State government, Kuppam mandal in Chittoor district received a rainfall of 49.5 mm as of 7 pm. Several mandals in Visakhapatnam, Krishna, West Godavari, Guntur and East Godavari received more than 10 mm.
Compared to the previous day, maximum temperatures in most of the cities came down slightly, according to India Meteorological Department’s report.
Kanigiri mandal in Prakasam district witnessed the highest temperature of 46.7 °C. Chittoor’s Varadaiahpalem witnessed 46.4 °C and Manubolu in Nellore recorded 46° C followed by Jangamaheswara Puram (44.6 °C), Nellore (44.3°C), Kurnool (43.6°C), Kavali (43.6°C), Tirupati (42.8°C), Nandigama (41.8°C), Vijayawada (41.4°C), and Anantapur (41.3°C).
Weather in rural areas was much hotter as per the reports of the State government.
Meanwhile, scattered thundershowers brought down the temperature immediately after several areas witnessed the day’s maximum temperature. Hailstorms were reported in some areas.
In Vijayawada, not more than an hour after the maximum temperature (41.4°C) was recorded, it came down to 36 °C by 3 pm following thundershowers.
IMD had forecast thunderstorms with gusty winds only in north coastal districts and East Godavari and West Godavari but heavy rains and winds occurred in Krishna, Guntur and Chittoor districts.
Three casualties
During the next three to four days, similar weather conditions are likely in the State. While coastal districts are likely to receive showers at isolated areas, heatwave conditions will prevail in south coastal districts and dry weather will prevail over Rayalaseema districts.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, 433 cases of heatstroke hospitalisations and three heatstroke deaths have been reported by the Medical and Health department till date.