Sudden Thunderstorms Bring Relief to Coastal Andhra Pradesh
A sudden and intense spell of rainfall, accompanied by fierce lightning, gusty winds, and thunderstorms, lashed Visakhapatnam city and multiple districts across coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday night. The weather event provided significant relief from the prevailing heatwave conditions in the region.
Widespread Impact Across Districts
The heavy showers affected not only Vizag but also parts of Vizianagaram, Anakapalle, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, and other coastal areas. In Araku Valley of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district, light to moderate rainfall was reported, which unfortunately caused damage to standing horticultural crops due to the sudden and unexpected nature of the downpour.
IMD Issues Weather Warning for Weekend
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), thunderstorms with lightning are likely to occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema on both Saturday and Sunday, March 21–22. The forecast also includes warnings of gusty winds with speeds ranging from 30–40 kmph, potentially reaching up to 50 kmph in specific regions.
These high-velocity winds are expected to impact:
- North coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam
- South coastal Andhra Pradesh
- Rayalaseema
Meteorological Conditions Behind the Storms
The IMD has attributed this weather activity to an upper air cyclonic circulation persisting over the west-central Bay of Bengal, off the north coastal Andhra Pradesh coast. This system is located at approximately 3.1 km above mean sea level and continues to influence regional weather patterns.
Rainfall Data Highlights Intensity
Specific rainfall measurements recorded between Thursday morning and Friday morning underscore the intensity of the precipitation. Kukunoor in Eluru district, Parvathipuram, and Komarada in Manyam district each recorded significant rainfall of 7 cm during this period, indicating widespread and substantial weather activity across the coastal belt.
