Temperature touches 39 °C in parts of AP

Visakhapatnam: Even before the onset of the peak of summer, parts of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP) are experiencing hot conditions in the first week of March, with temperatures hovering between 36 °C and 39 °C on Thursday.Kavali town in Nellore district recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 39.2 °C on Thursday, the warmest day so far this year. Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region recorded 39.1 °C, followed by 39 °C in Kadapa, 38.9 °C in Nellore, 38.8 °C in Nandyal, 38.7 °C in Ongole, 38.4 °C in Amaravati, and 38 °C each in Tirupati and Jangamaheswarapuram.Although a few parts of the state experienced misty conditions in the morning hours on Thursday, people in parts of Rayalaseema and CAP experienced hot weather during the afternoon.People in parts of the state may experience hot weather for the next three to four days. Maximum temperatures may decrease slightly in the second week of March, said S Karunasagar, scientist at IMD-Amaravati.In March, however, maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to above normal over many parts of the state. A few parts of the state (Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu and Prakasam districts) may experience one to two days of heatwaves in March, and overall rainfall activity in the state is expected to be below normal, he added.The weather agency forecast that partly cloudy skies with shallow mist or hazy conditions are likely in the morning in parts of the state. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 38 °C and 23 °C, respectively, for the next 2 days. The trough from Telangana to south interior Karnataka across Rayalaseema at 0.9 km above mean sea level persists. Dry weather prevailed over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema.Vizag recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 35.4 °C on Thursday, 1.4 °C above normal temperature, and relative humidity was over 80% during the period. Health experts said the hot weather could accelerate dehydration and appealed to people to drink more fluids to stay hydrated.