A severe cold wave has gripped parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, with the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district recording bone-chilling temperatures and dense fog disrupting daily life. Early morning readings on Wednesday, December 17, revealed mercury levels plunging into single digits across several mandals.
Record Low Temperatures Across ASR District
According to data from the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Chintapalle, G Madugula recorded the lowest temperature at a frigid 5.4 degrees Celsius. This was closely followed by Munchingputtu at 7°C. The popular hill station Araku Valley and Dumbriguda both registered a minimum temperature of 7.2°C.
Other areas also experienced significant cold. Chintapalle itself recorded 7.5°C, while Pedabayalu saw 7.8°C. Later readings from Pedabayalu showed 10.2°C and Chintapalli 11.2°C. Paderu recorded 8.3°C, Hukumpeta 9.3°C, and Y Ramavaram 9.9°C. The remaining locations in the district witnessed minimum temperatures ranging between 10°C and 14°C.
Weather Disruption and Official Forecast
The combination of sharply low temperatures and a thick blanket of fog has significantly disrupted normal life in the affected parts of the district. Visibility issues and the piercing cold have impacted morning activities and transportation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that dry weather is likely to prevail over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, south coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Rayalaseema for the next few days. Furthermore, the IMD predicts no large change in the minimum temperatures over the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions, indicating that the cold conditions are likely to persist.
Living with the Winter Chill
Residents in the hilly and forested tracts of the ASR district are accustomed to cooler weather, but the current plunge into single-digit Celsius readings marks a pronounced winter spell. The ongoing conditions highlight the seasonal weather pattern affecting the interior parts of the Visakhapatnam region, necessitating precautions against the cold, especially for vulnerable populations and early-morning commuters.
