Residents of Chintapalle in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district woke up to a severe cold wave on Friday, January 9, as the mercury plunged to a chilling 4.5 degrees Celsius. This marks the lowest temperature recorded in the state so far this winter season.
Record Low Temperatures Grip the Region
According to data from the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) in Chintapalle, the area has been experiencing a consistent drop in minimum temperatures. The station recorded 4.5°C on January 9, preceded by 5°C on January 8 and 6°C on both January 7 and December 9, 2025. Most parts of the ASR district reported lows between 5°C and 7°C on Friday. The current cold spell is a stark reminder of the record low of 1.5°C that the region touched on January 8, 2023.
The intense cold was visibly evident, with thin sheets of ice forming on grasslands and vehicles parked in open areas, amplifying the wintry conditions.
Fog and Disruption Across the District
The biting cold was compounded by dense fog, which severely disrupted daily life. Visibility dropped to below 50 metres across several areas, including Paderu, Araku Valley, Pedabayalu, Hukumpeta, G Madugula, GK Veedhi, and Chintapalle itself. The poor visibility forced drivers to slow down significantly, leading to delays in road traffic throughout the district.
Local residents found themselves struggling against the harsh weather. A single layer of clothing proved utterly inadequate, pushing people to seek warmth at community gathering points. Tea stalls and small bonfires became popular hubs as people huddled together to fight the chill.
IMD Forecast: Rain for South, Dry Weather Elsewhere
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather forecast for the coming days. Under the influence of a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, light to moderate rainfall is likely in parts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema between January 10 and 12.
For north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, the IMD predicts dry weather accompanied by fog and mist. In contrast to the extreme cold in the hilly ASR district, other parts of Andhra Pradesh experienced much milder conditions on Friday, with minimum temperatures ranging between 14°C and 20°C.
