Mercury reaches 48.1°C in Piduguralla, second highest in AP since 2016

Nursing students use umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching sun at the Ongole Government General Hospital on Thursday. | Photo credit: KOMMURI SRINIVAS

A day after recording 47.6°C, Piduguralla in Palnadu district broke 10-year records by registering 48.1°C — the first time since 2016 — on Thursday, May 21. This is also the second highest temperature recorded in the state since 2016.

According to data collected by the AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Piduguralla’s temperatures remained below 45.5 °C between 2016 and 2025. The lowest maximum temperature in the city was 42 °C, recorded in 2016 and the highest maximum temperature during this time was 45.5 °C, recorded in 2019.

Piduguralla’s temperature on Thursday is also the second highest recorded in the state, after Velingandla in Prakasam district which recorded 48.6°C on May 2, 2016.

The highest temperatures of the season recorded during 2016-2025 are as follows: Veligandla 48.6°C in 2016, Tanguturu in Prakasam 47.8°C in 2017, Marripadu in Nellore and Dachepalle in Palnad both recorded 45.6°C in 2018 Krishna district in 73°patam I, I. 2019, Pamidimukkala in Krishna, Bhattiprolu in Guntur and Kanigiri in Prakasam districts recorded 47.8 °C in 2020, Pedapadu in West Godavari district 45.9 °C in 2021, Gudur in Tirupati 45.9 °C in 2022, Rajamahen, Godavari East. Gospadu in Nandyal district 47.7 °C in 2024 and Panyam in Nandyal 44 °C in 2025.

India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, Senior Scientist S. Karunasagar said that while May is considered the hottest month in AP, temperatures continue to rise when westerly/northwesterly winds hit the state, as is the case now. He added that the state will continue to face severe temperatures for the next three days.

In a separate report on Thursday, the IMD said ‘severe heat wave’ is likely in East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, NTR, Krishna, Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, SPSR Nellore districts on May 23 and 24 and issued a heat wave warning for the above areas till May 26.

Rain likely

Meanwhile, due to the influence of the surface trough, scattered light rains are likely over parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju, Polavaram, Nellore and Rayalaseema.

Palnadu districts followed by Prakasam, Krishna, Eluru, Bapatla, NTR, Guntur and Markapuram experienced scorching heat on Thursday. Temperatures crossed 45°C in 18 districts and 200 mandals out of the total 688 in the state recorded 44°C and above, APSDMA executive director Prakhar Jain said.

Highest temperatures

Temperatures at various stations are: 48.1°C at Piduguralla, 47.6°C at Vetapalem in Bapatla district and Nandivada in Krishna district, 47.4°C at Torragudipad in NTR and Addanki in Prakasam district, 47.3°C at Allipalli in 4°C in Elurapuram district, 46.5°C in Kunavaram district in Elurapuram district, 46.5°C in Kunavaram district. Polavaram, 46.4°C at Kavali in Nellore and 46°C at Tenali in Guntur district.

Published – 21 May 2026 21:29 IST