Parts of Andhra Pradesh are once again experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures, bringing back the intense winter chill after a brief period of warmth. Both minimum and maximum temperatures have been falling steadily across the state, with several areas recording notably low readings.
Recorded Temperatures and Historical Lows
The Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) in Chintapalle, located in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, registered a minimum temperature of 9.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, December 7. Residents reported freezing conditions throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning. This cold spell follows an earlier record this season when Chintapalle saw the mercury drop to 6.8°C on November 19.
The current chill marks a return after a temporary respite caused by the cyclonic storm Ditwah over the Bay of Bengal. Historically, Chintapalle has witnessed extreme cold, including a reading of 1.5°C on January 8, 2023, when thin ice sheets formed on grasslands and vehicles. The town's lowest temperature in three decades was zero degrees Celsius on January 6, 1992.
Impact Across Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema
The cold wave is not confined to the interior regions. Coastal areas are also feeling the bite. Visakhapatnam (Vizag) recorded 17.4°C on Sunday, one of the season's lowest for the city, prompting residents to pull out their winter blankets and woolens. "We had to take out our woolens again," said Ganesh Kumar V, a resident of Vizag. Further north, Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district recorded 15.7°C.
Overall, minimum temperatures in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Rayalaseema region dropped by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that these temperatures may dip even further in the coming days. The IMD attributes this to lower tropospheric north-easterly winds prevailing over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.
Weather Conditions and Tourist Inflow
Dry weather has prevailed over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, while rainfall occurred at one or two places in Rayalaseema. Dry conditions are likely to continue for the next few days. The cold spell has also been accompanied by fog, with a thick blanket reducing visibility for commuters in parts of the ASR district.
Local reports from ASR district indicate that tourist inflow had declined in November due to Cyclone Ditwah and associated rainfall. However, locals now anticipate that the return of the winter chill will attract more visitors from West Bengal, Odisha, and other parts of Andhra Pradesh, eager to experience the cold weather.
