Andhra Pradesh: No Rain; Mercury To Go Up In AP This Week

Senior scientist at IMD Amaravati, Dr S. Karunasagar, said dry weather was pushing up the temperatures due to lack of rains. Nellore, Bapatla, Ongole and Kavali have experienced temperatures above 37°Celsius, 3°Celsius above the normal during the last three days. These conditions will prevail for another week, he said.

He said that as per extended weather forecast, the state might receive normal to above-normal rainfall for the whole of the next week, bringing relief to the people.

IMD forecast that the state was likely to receive below-normal rainfall and experience warmer-than-usual conditions in September.

Most parts of the state are likely to receive below-normal rainfall amid prevailing El Nino conditions over the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

IMD expected maximum and minimum temperatures to remain above normal. The rainfall deficit and elevated temperatures could affect agriculture, drinking water and reservoir storage.

Meteorologists stressed timely preparedness, water management and agricultural contingency planning to mitigate heat stress and crop impacts.

The state government alerted officials to prepare contingency plans to meet the water shortage.

GVMC water supply superintendent engineer V. Pallamraju said the Godavari waters for north Andhra through Polavaram Left Main Canal commissioned by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on September 2 will mitigate the situation by augmenting water supply for drinking and industrial use for four months till December end.

Linking the Kanithi balancing reservoir with Meghadrigedda Reservoir by March would take care of the drinking water needs for the next summer.