The year 2025 proved to be a deadly one for Andhra Pradesh in terms of extreme weather, with the state recording over one hundred fatalities due to various natural calamities. A significant majority of these deaths were caused by lightning and thunderstorms, highlighting a sharp and worrying increase from the previous year.
Lightning Emerges as Top Killer
According to data from the AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), lightning and thunderstorms claimed 86 lives in Andhra Pradesh in 2025. This figure marks a staggering 62 per cent increase compared to the 53 deaths recorded in 2024. The coastal and Rayalaseema regions bore the brunt of this natural fury.
The district-wise breakdown reveals Srikakulam as the most affected area. Srikakulam district alone recorded 12 lightning deaths. It was closely followed by Vizianagaram district with 11 fatalities. Other districts with high numbers included Tirupati (8 deaths), and Guntur and Kurnool with seven deaths each.
Floods and Cyclonic Rains Add to the Toll
Beyond lightning, the state also grappled with severe floods and heavy rains between July and November 2025. These events, creating flood-like situations in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, resulted in 18 additional deaths.
Furthermore, the impact of Cyclone Montha in October 2025 led to heavy rains in certain areas, claiming three more lives. When combined, the total death toll from these extreme weather events comfortably crossed the 100 mark, making 2025 one of the wetter and more tragic years recently.
A Paradox: No Heat Wave Deaths Despite High Temperatures
In a notable shift from recent trends, the summer of 2025 (March 1 to May 31) did not see any officially recorded heat wave days in either the Rayalaseema or Coastal Andhra Pradesh regions, as per the IMD. This is despite temperatures soaring to 42–44 degrees Celsius in some pockets.
This stands in stark contrast to the previous years. Andhra Pradesh had recorded 21 heat wave days in 2023 and 27 in 2024, with the state experiencing the highest number of such days in South India in 2024. Consequently, while heat strokes caused four deaths (three in 2023 and one in 2024), the state did not report any heat stroke fatalities in 2025.
The IMD attributed this change to 96 per cent excess rainfall during the pre-monsoon season (March to May) of 2025, which likely moderated the peak summer heat.
Rainfall and Agricultural Impact
On the monsoon front, Andhra Pradesh received 530.9 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30, 2025. This was approximately two per cent above the normal average of 521.6 mm for this period. The overall normal and well-distributed rainfall during the 2025 monsoon season is reported to have had a positive impact on the state's agriculture and water resources, offering a silver lining amidst the tragic loss of life.
The data for 2025 presents a complex picture of Andhra Pradesh's climate vulnerability, underscoring the growing threat from sudden, intense weather events like lightning storms, even as it experienced a reprieve from prolonged heat waves.
