Cloudy skies, gusty winds over Visakhapatnam; IMD predicts thunderstorms

Dark clouds gather over the Bay of Bengal and the beach along Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KR Deepak

Rain clouds rolled in from the Bay of Bengal over Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) afternoon, bringing a respite from the heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds for the north coast of Andhra Pradesh in the coming days.

After a hot and humid afternoon, the clouds came. The IMD set the day’s maximum at 35.6 degrees Celsius, recorded at Kailasagiri station in Visakhapatnam.

Monsoon rain clouds move in from the sea over Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. The IMD has predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds over the north coast of Andhra Pradesh.

Video: @krdeepu18pic.twitter.com/eAKfGIHNXR

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 17, 2026

Andhra Pradesh Directorate of Economics and Statistics (APDES) gauges showed that the Government Eye Hospital station at Seethammadhara recorded 3.11 mm and the Municipal Service Reservoir 1.25 mm till 2 p.m. Most of the city’s mandals, among them Maharanipeta, Mulagada and Anandapuram, reported no rain. But the wind held and the sky remained gray.

Monsoon clouds loom over Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Video: @krdeepu18pic.twitter.com/FQxsJjldAb

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 17, 2026

In its bulletin, the Amaravati Meteorological Center said light to moderate rain or thundershowers were likely to occur at one or two places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. It warned of thunderstorms and lightning in isolated places and gusty winds of 40 to 50 km/h. Hot and humid conditions were also likely in isolated locations, he said.

The district was predicted to figure in the North Coast Andhra Pradesh group along with Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari and West Godavari.

The heaviest rain fell over the northern districts. According to APDES, Vepada in Vizianagaram received 88.35 mm in the cumulative window from 8.30 am to 2 pm, the highest in the state. Gandhavaram in Anakapalli’s Chodavaram mandal recorded 64 mm and Devarapalle 55 mm. In Srikakulam, Kotabommali, Tekkali and Santhabommali recorded between 37 and 45 mm.

Forecasters on social media are reporting heavy rain

Amateur weather observers at X said parts of the city may see heavier rain. Handle Andhra Pradesh Weatherman (@praneethweather) said that the suburbs of Visakhapatnam, mainly Gajuwaka, NAD, Simhachalam and Anakapalle, may experience heavy downpour within an hour, though central areas like Dwaraka Nagar, Beach Road and Madhurawada may receive only light rain or showers.

Another X-driver, Vizag Weatherman (@vizagweatherma9) said that Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Srikakulam and Araku could see thunderstorms and rain in the afternoon.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 15:46 IST