Rain brings relief to deficit-hit Andhra Pradesh

Motorists were caught off guard by sudden rain in Vijayawada on Sunday. | Photo credit: KVS Giri

Rain lashed large parts of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, offering relief to the state reeling under a significant seasonal deficit, with the Directorate of Economics and Statistics’ automatic rain gauge stations recording cumulative rainfall of more than 50 mm at several places between 8.30 am and 9 pm.

Musunuru in Eluru district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 52.69 mm, followed by Pallamalli in Chimakurthy mandal in Prakasam district with 46 mm. Ipuru and Machavaram in Palnadu district recorded 42.64 mm and 42.49 mm respectively. Darlapudi in Anakapalli district of S. Rayavaram mandal received 42 mm while Rajamahendravaram Urban in East Godavari recorded 38.25 mm.

The Anakapalli area accounted for a large proportion of readings above 20 mm, with several gauges in Paravada, Nakkapalli and Anakapalli mandals recording between 20 mm and 34 mm. Palnadu, Kakinada, East Godavari and Guntur districts also figured prominently among the directorate’s top 50 stations, drawn from a network of 2,218 automatic rain gauges.

Among the India Meteorological Department (IMD) observatories, Amaravati recorded 27 mm, one of the highest in the state. Machilipatnam and Bapatla received 11 mm and 16 mm respectively.

The spell took place against the backdrop of a trough extending from south Telangana through Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu to the Gulf of Mannar, persisting at 0.9 km above mean sea level, the Amaravati Meteorological Center said. Cyclonic upper air circulation over north coast of Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and west-central Bay of Bengal has weakened.

The Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Center has predicted moderate to severe thunderstorms accompanied by gusty and gusty winds in the afternoon. He briefly issued a red alert for Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR and Krishna districts.

Maximum temperatures varied widely across the state on Sunday. Nellore recorded 39.2°C, which was 3.8°C above normal, followed by Tirupati (AP) at 39.4°C and Kavali at 39°C. Jangamaheswarapuram and Arogyavaram recorded the lowest maximum temperature at 34.5°C each, followed by Kalingapatnam at 34.9°C. Amaravati recorded 37.3°C and Visakhapatnam 35°C.

The rain came against the backdrop of a significant monsoon deficit. Cumulative rainfall in the state since June 1 remained 47% below normal, with every district classified as “deficient” or “severely deficient”. Guntur and Krishna, despite recording steep one-day surpluses of 388% and 188%, remained in seasonal deficit at 30% and 37%, respectively.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation said its Monsoon Response Team removed waterlogging in Labbipeta, the bridge area and Bandar Road soon after it started raining as per the instructions of Commissioner Dhyanachandra.

IMD’s seven-day outlook suggests isolated to scattered rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema till September 12.

Published – 06 Sep 2026 21:48 IST