Heavy Rain Warning for 5 Andhra Districts, Yanam as Low Pressure System Intensifies

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places in five districts of Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Yanam over the next 24 hours. This comes as a low pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining the West Bengal and north Odisha coasts, is likely to strengthen into a depression within 12 hours, according to the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam.

The system first formed at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday and developed into a well-marked low pressure area by 2:30 p.m., persisting over the same region through the evening. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) said winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely over the northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal and along the north Andhra Pradesh coast until Tuesday.

The sea is expected to remain rough, with a possibility of waves surging along the coast. The APSDMA has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea, and those already out at sea have been asked to return to shore immediately.

Heavy rainfall is expected in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Anakapalli, and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts, as well as Yanam, over the next 24 hours. On Monday, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light to moderate rain are likely at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Polavaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Nellore, and Tirupati districts.

Light rain is expected in a few places across Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Markapuram, Prakasam, and Chittoor districts. By Tuesday, light to moderate rain is likely over the districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, with strong surface winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema over the next two days.

The APSDMA has appealed to the public to remain alert. The advisory against venturing into the sea, currently limited to the north Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam, will extend to south coastal Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday. Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough off the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, and north Andhra Pradesh until Tuesday.

Meteorological data from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Amaravati for Sunday showed Tirupati recording the day's highest maximum temperature in the state at 38.5°C, which is 3.5°C above normal. Kavali followed at 38.3°C and Bapatla at 37.9°C. Among the 21 stations monitored, only Tuni recorded rainfall, at 8 mm. Relative humidity was highest in Visakhapatnam at 80%.

The bulletin also flagged swell surge alerts for the coastal districts of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, Krishna, and West Godavari, with wave heights of up to 1.4 metres forecast through Sunday evening. Ocean current alerts were issued for the Krishna and Nellore coasts, with harbour and marine operations advised to exercise caution.

As a precautionary measure, the Chief Secretary, the Commissioner for Disaster Management, and district collectors across the state have been alerted, along with All India Radio stations and railway authorities. The IMD continues to monitor the system and will issue updates as the situation evolves.