Residents of Chintapalle in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district bundled up in heavy woollens as the town experienced its chilliest day of the season on Thursday, January 8. The mercury plunged to a biting 5 degrees Celsius, marking a significant drop of nearly four degrees below the area's typical seasonal average.
Record Low Temperatures Grip the Region
Data from the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) in Chintapalle confirmed the sharp temperature decline. The station recorded a minimum of 5°C on January 8, following readings of 6°C on both January 7 and December 9, 2025. Officials described the conditions on Wednesday night and Thursday morning as feeling "freezing cold" and issued a warning that temperatures could fall even further, potentially reaching 4°C during the upcoming Sankranti festive period.
This is not the first extreme cold event for the town. Chintapalle holds a record for severe lows, having touched a frigid 1.5°C on January 8, 2023. On that occasion, the cold was so intense that thin sheets of ice formed on open grasslands and vehicles parked outdoors.
Dense Fog Adds to Winter Woes
Adding to the discomfort and disruption, a thick blanket of dense fog enveloped large sections of ASR district on Thursday morning. The fog drastically reduced visibility to below 100 metres, creating hazardous conditions for commuters. Morning traffic slowed to a crawl as motorists exercised extreme caution, particularly on treacherous ghat roads where the fog made navigation risky.
The cold wave was not confined to Chintapalle alone. According to RARS, most parts of ASR district reported similarly low minimum temperatures, ranging between 5°C and 7°C on the same day.
IMD Forecast and Statewide Conditions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dry weather to persist across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. However, isolated pockets are likely to continue experiencing fog and mist over the next several days, indicating that the chilly conditions may linger.
Meanwhile, other regions of Andhra Pradesh have reported markedly milder nights in recent days, with minimum temperatures hovering in a much more comfortable range of 14°C to 20°C. This stark contrast highlights the localized intensity of the cold spell affecting the interior and hilly areas of ASR district.
