No respite from heatwave in coastal AP; Bapatla records scorching 46.6 C, emerges hottest in AP

Visakhapatnam: A severe heatwave continued to grip Andhra Pradesh on Thursday (May 21), with at least 17 places recording temperatures of 40°C or above. The IMD has issued a severe heatwave alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP) for the next four to five days.Bapatla in south coastal Andhra Pradesh emerged as the hottest place at 46.6°C, followed by Jangamaheswarapuram in Palnadu (46°C), Kavali (45.8°C), Amaravati (45.7°C), Gannavaram (45.2°C), Nandigama (44.7°C), Ongole (44.6°C) and Nellore (44.1°C). Most other areas in CAP and Rayalaseema recorded temperatures between 40°C and 43°C, about 2–3 degrees above normal.Bapatla, Jangamaheswarapuram, Kavali, Narsapur, Gannavaram and Amaravati experienced severe heatwave conditions, according to IMD-Amaravati.The intense heat has thinned traffic across urban and rural areas during afternoon hours. In cities, residents are also facing the urban heat island effect, where dense construction and concrete infrastructure trap heat, making conditions harsher than in rural areas.The IMD forecast severe heatwave conditions at isolated places in East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, NTR, Krishna, Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts from May 22 to 25. Heatwave conditions are also likely in Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalle and Kakinada during the same period.Maximum temperatures in Rayalaseema are expected to range between 41°C and 44°C over the next five days.The weather agency also predicted thunderstorms with lightning at isolated places in CAP and Rayalaseema. Gusty winds of 50–60 kmph are likely in parts of CAP, Yanam and Rayalaseema over the next two to three days.Locals reported thunderstorms in parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju, Vizianagaram, Manyam and some Rayalaseema districts on Thursday evening.