Brace yourselves, residents of Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema! Starting Wednesday, September 24th, through September 28th, expect widespread light to moderate showers, with some areas bracing for truly heavy downpours. This intense weather is due to a new low-pressure system brewing in the Bay of Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati reported that a pre-existing low-pressure area, which had been situated over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the coastal regions of West Bengal and north Odisha, was observed over West Bengal and Odisha’s coastal belts by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. This system is accompanied by a cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above sea level, along with two associated troughs.
Adding to the concern, a fresh low-pressure area is anticipated to develop over the east-central and northern Bay of Bengal around September 25th. Forecasters predict this system will track west-northwest, likely intensifying into a depression off the South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts by September 26th. It is then expected to make landfall along these same coastlines around September 27th.
As these weather systems converge, significant rainfall is forecast. While isolated heavy showers are expected across the state from Wednesday, North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh should prepare for very heavy rainfall on September 26th and 27th. These rains could bring with them disruptive lightning, thunderstorms, and strong winds.
On Tuesday, temperatures remained relatively mild, staying below 35 degrees Celsius across all monitoring stations. Visakhapatnam recorded the day’s highest at 34 degrees Celsius, while regions in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema hovered around 30 degrees Celsius.
Real-time data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics revealed that several districts, including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, and Visakhapatnam, experienced light to moderate rainfall between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Garikipalem in Srikakulam district saw the highest precipitation, measuring 89.75 mm.
In response to the escalating situation, the A.P. State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has urged the public to exercise extreme caution. A first-level warning has already been issued for the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada, where water inflows have dramatically increased to 4.11 lakh cusecs.