Heavy rain hits Tirupati as low-pressure area forms off Tamil Nadu coast

A low-pressure area formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast at 5.30 a.m., as Tirupati district recorded heavy rain in the preceding 24 hours.

The rainfall was recorded up to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Meteorological Centre in Amaravati. Tada received 109.8 mm of rain, followed by Satyavedu with 85.4 mm and Tirupati Aero with 76.4 mm.

Tirupati rainfall exceeds normal

Tirupati district recorded an average of 49.5 mm, which was more than eight times its normal rainfall for the day. The figures show that the district was among the areas that received rainfall well above its usual level during the period covered by the Meteorological Centre’s report.

The India Meteorological Department said the low-pressure area had formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the Tamil Nadu coast. The development comes as weather systems over the Bay of Bengal are expected to influence rainfall and wind conditions across Andhra Pradesh.

Thunderstorms and strong winds forecast

The Amaravati centre has forecast thunderstorms with lightning at isolated places in Prakasam, Nellore and parts of Rayalaseema on Thursday. Similar conditions are likely in most northern coastal districts, Prakasam, Nellore and most Rayalaseema districts on Friday.

Strong winds with speeds of 30 to 40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely at isolated places across the State until Saturday morning. The forecast indicates that both coastal and Rayalaseema areas could experience changing weather conditions during the period.

The centre has forecast isolated light to moderate rain through October 27. Rain is expected to become scattered in the coastal districts on October 27.

More weather systems developing

In an update based on 5.30 p.m. observations, the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam said an upper air circulation over the Gulf of Thailand had emerged into the north Andaman Sea. The circulation is “very likely” to move west-northwestwards.

Another low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23. The low is then likely to move northwestwards and intensify further.

P.L.N. Murthy, Head of the Cyclone Warning Centre, said Visakhapatnam would “definitely” receive rain around October 27, possibly from the evening of October 26. Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, said the low-pressure area could form by Friday and that heavy rain was likely in coastal Andhra Pradesh next week.

Jain advised fishermen not to venture into the sea from Sunday. He also advised those already at sea to return before then.

State remains below normal rainfall

According to the Amaravati centre, Andhra Pradesh received 47.3 mm of rain from October 1 to 21, against a normal of 111.7 mm. This amounted to a deficit of 58 per cent.

Only Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya districts received more than their normal rainfall during the period. Tirupati’s heavy spell therefore stood in contrast to the overall rainfall deficit recorded across the State.

Source: The Hindu