Andhra Pradesh Rains Bring Partial Relief From Monsoon Deficit

Widespread rainfall across Andhra Pradesh on Sunday provided some relief from a persistent seasonal shortfall, with several automatic rain gauge stations recording significant accumulations between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Musunuru in Eluru district led the state with 52.69 mm of rain. Other notable readings included Pallamalli in Prakasam district at 46 mm, Ipuru and Machavaram in Palnadu district at 42.64 mm and 42.49 mm respectively, and Darlapudi in Anakapalli district at 42 mm. Rajamahendravaram Urban in East Godavari recorded 38.25 mm.

Anakapalli district contributed a large share of the higher readings, with multiple gauges in Paravada, Nakkapalli, and Anakapalli mandals recording between 20 mm and 34 mm. Palnadu, Kakinada, East Godavari, and Guntur districts also featured prominently among the top 50 stations from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics' network of 2,218 automatic rain gauges.

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

The spell was attributed to a trough extending from south Telangana across Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu to the Gulf of Mannar, persisting at 0.9 km above mean sea level, according to the Meteorological Centre, Amaravati. An upper-air cyclonic circulation over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and the west-central Bay of Bengal had weakened.

The Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, had forecast moderate to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds. A red alert was briefly issued for Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, and Krishna districts.

Maximum temperatures varied widely. 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 temperatures at 34.5°C each.

The rain comes against a backdrop of a pronounced monsoon deficit. The state's cumulative rainfall since June 1 remains 47% below normal, with every district classified as either 'deficient' or 'large deficient'. Guntur and Krishna, despite recording steep single-day surpluses of 388% and 188% respectively, remain in seasonal deficit at 30% and 37%.

In Vijayawada, the Municipal Corporation said its monsoon response team cleared waterlogging at Labbipeta, the bridge area, and Bandar Road soon after the rain began.

The IMD's seven-day outlook indicates isolated to scattered rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema through September 12.