Heatwave in Andhra Pradesh, temperature above 40° C in Telangana

In Telangana, the IMD has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places, but has warned of the maximum temperature crossing 40° C in many districts.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Palawat, the vice-president of weather forecast provider Skymet, told South First: “There will be rain and thunderstorm activity over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana By 20 and 21 April, which is expected to continue till 24 April. There will be rain and the temperature will go down.”

Also read: India could soon see heatwaves beyond human survivability

Heatwave in Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has asked people to take necessary precautions in view of the forecast of a heat wave in 116 mandals across the state on Monday.

Heatwave conditions are expected in seven mandals in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district, 15 each in the Anakapalli and NTR districts, eight in East Godavari, four in Eluru, six each in Gunturu and Krishna, and nine in Kakinada.

Of the 116 mandals in the state, Nellipaka and Chintur in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district are expected to sizzle at 45.5° Celsius on Monday.

According to APSDMA, severe heatwave conditions were witnessed on Sunday in 11 mandals of the Anakapalli district, and three each in Kakinada and Vizianagaram.

“The heat wave is seasonal. It will continue, but infrequently it will prevail over the period of time. However, there will be some break from the heat wave in between,”

“We may have some respite after four days as we are expecting a trough kind of structure building in the wind, so the wind coming from the northwest will be released and there will be some relief from the heat wave. The temperature will decrease, and we can also expect rain along with it,” S Stella, the head of the meteorological centre in Amaravati, told South First.

The IMD has also warned of dry weather, with maximum temperatures likely to rise by 2° C at isolated places.

Also read: Sweltering summer heat splits large rock in Andhra Pradesh

Rise in temperature in Telangana

The IMD has warned that thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph), were very likely to occur in the Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Siddipeta, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Ranagareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, and Mahabubnagar districts of Telangana.

However, the IMD said that there would not be any rain in the near future, which could have given respite from the heat.

The IMD has predicted temperatures above 40° C in 23 districts of Telangana, asking people to be alert.

The temperature of the remaining 10 districts will be above 30° C over the next four days.

pic.twitter.com/WBBPsZfo8Z

— IMD_Metcentrehyd (@metcentrehyd) April 17, 2023

Heatwave: A health concern

“Heatwaves in plains are when the maximum temperature is 40° C, but the recorded maximum temperature is 4.5° C or more than normal,” explained Palawat.

“In the coastal region, the threshold temperature is 37° C. When the departure from normal is above 4.5°, it is called a heatwave,” he added.

“Also, when the temperature is above 45° Celsius in any area, it is considered a heat wave, and above 47° C, it is considered a severe heat wave,” he said.

A heatwave is often accompanied by high humidity, which can cause health problems, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration.

Heatwaves can be dangerous, especially for the elderly, young children, and those with chronic health conditions.

Here are some tips to stay safe during a heatwave:

1. Stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, typically between 11 am and 4 pm.
2. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you.
3. Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
4. Use air-conditioning or fans to stay cool. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, take a cool shower or bath, or use a wet towel or ice pack to cool down.
5. Avoid strenuous activities like exercise or yard work during the hottest part of the day.
6. Check on elderly relatives, friends, and neighbours, as they are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
7. If you experience symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, such as dizziness, nausea, headache, or confusion, seek medical attention immediately.