Visakhapatnam grapples with extreme weather change

The Hindu

4 days ago

The city has been witnessing extreme weather fluctuations for the past week due to the rising temperatures and sudden rainfall. However, despite the high humidity level, the groundwater level has seen a rise to some extent in the city limits.
Anandapuram mandal recorded a maximum temperature of 37.7°C in the first half of the day, but the mandal and its surrounding areas also received the highest rainfall of 37 mm in just the last 24 hours (June 7 morning to June 8 morning).
While other areas received moderate rains, the morning temperatures were recorded between 35°C and 38°C and relative humidity levels increased to more than 70%.
Waltair on Sunday (June 8), recorded a relative humidity of 86%, while the maximum temperature was 34.2°C. The relative humidity at Visakhapatnam Airport was 67%, while the maximum temperature was 35.6°C.
The weather fluctuations began after the onset of the southwest monsoon in the last week of May, during which the city was struggling with unbearable humidity, causing excessive sweating and dehydration, especially among women and the elderly.
Meanwhile, the AP Disaster Management Authority said that the humid-heat conditions would be severe in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Monday (June 9) and the maximum temperature may touch 41-42°C in isolated places. However, light to moderate rains are likely in the south coastal Andhra Pradesh that day.
Although the maximum temperatures recorded in the last few days have been between 32°C and 36°C, residents are facing a heat index of 40°C to 45°C due to high humidity levels.
So what is heat index, Emeritus Professor Prof. O.S.R.U. Bhanu Kumar, Andhra University, speaking to The Hindu said, 'People may perceive high relative humidity (RH) levels as high temperatures, but that is not true. For example, if the temperature at a particular place (Visakhapatnam beach) is 30°Celsius, people living in that area will perceive it as 40°C due to high RH levels. This is called the heat index'.
For comfort, RH levels should be below 40-45%. The high RH values persist even after the onset of the southwest monsoon, and it may continue till June, Prof. Kumar added.
High humidity levels lead to two things - rains and excessive sweating. Humidity in the air can be measured by four parameters, including RH values. If the RH value is high, the weather will be humid and thunderstorms will occur in the evenings, he said.