Heavy Rain Likely in 13 Andhra Districts Amid 79% October Deficit

The Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) in Visakhapatnam has warned of heavy rainfall at one or two places over the next 24 hours in 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The warning covers Parvathipuram-Manyam, Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, Palnadu, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa, Sri Sathya Sai and Anantapur.

Rain or thunderstorms are also likely at a few places across Andhra Pradesh and Yanam till October 19. The forecast comes as the State has received about a fifth of its normal rainfall in October.

Between October 1 and 16, Andhra Pradesh received 18.1 mm of rain against a normal of 86.8 mm, leaving the State with a deficit of 79 per cent, according to the Meteorological Centre, Amaravati, of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Coastal areas face sharper shortfall

The rainfall deficit is higher in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, which are 85 per cent short, while Rayalaseema has recorded a 69 per cent shortfall.

Kurnool district has received no rain during the period covered by the figures.

The expected rain could provide some respite to the State, although the forecast points to rain at only a few places and the rainfall is expected to become isolated from October 20.

Circulation and northeast monsoon support rainfall

CWC Head P.L.N. Murthy said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and its neighbourhood, which extended to 0.9 km above mean sea level on Thursday, now extends up to 1.5 km.

The circulation is causing rain over the region and Tamil Nadu, while a trough runs from the circulation to the northwest Bay of Bengal, according to the Amaravati centre.

The northeast monsoon has set in over the State.

Mr. Murthy said that once the circulation strengthened, moisture-laden winds from the sea would be lifted by the hills around Visakhapatnam, producing rain.

He added that easterly waves would bring wet spells separated by a day or two of clear skies.

Thunderstorm watch and wind forecast

The Amaravati centre has placed all districts under a “watch” for thunderstorms and lightning till Sunday.

Surface winds of 30 to 40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely on Friday. Wind speeds are expected to rise to 40 to 50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, on Saturday and Sunday.

No warning has been issued for fishermen.

In the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Friday, Tirupati airport, Srikalahasti and Merakamudidam in Vizianagaram district recorded 5 cm of rain each.

Arogyavaram recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 22°C, while later readings showed 3.8 cm of rain at Narsapur and 2.2 cm at Bapatla.

Kurnool was the hottest place at 37.2°C, which was 4.1°C above normal.

The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre, New Delhi, does not expect a depression to form over the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea in the next seven days.

Source: The Hindu