May in Andhra Pradesh starts cooler than usual with below-normal temperatures

The Hindu

11-05-2025

While May is usually the peak summer time in the State with heatwave-like conditions, this year, the month has begun on a cooler note, as rains and thunderstorms have brought down daytime temperatures.
Many stations in the State have been recording below-normal daytime temperatures continuously since May 1, and the deviation in the maximum temperatures from the normal in these stations is between 0 and 3° Celsius, according to data available with the India Meteorological Department (IMD). No heatwave days were observed so far in May.
In Rayalaseema too, starting May 1 till May 11, the daytime temperatures have not crossed the 42° Celsius mark, which too, was recorded only twice, once in Nandyal on May 4 and again in Nandyal and Kurnool on May 5.
As this is the case, the IMD has predicted thunderstorms, accompanied with lightning and gusty winds, at isolated places across the three regions of Rayalaseema, North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh till May 18. A note of caution has been sounded to the public and farmers.
On May 15, 16 and 17, light to moderate rain is expected in many places in the State, due to the north-south trough from Marathwada to Gulf of Mannar across Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu that lies at 0.9 km above mean sea level and advancing of Southwest Monsoon into South Andaman Sea, some parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal and Nicobar Islands around May 13.
While the Southwest Monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala on May 27, ahead of its normal date, the monsoon in the State can be expected four to seven days from then. Normally, the monsoon sets over Kerala around June 1, according to IMD.
Äfter the onset, the Southwest monsoon takes four to seven days to reach Andhra Pradesh. Usually, starting with Rayalaseema around June 4, the monsoon covers the entire State by June 11 or 13, said IMD, Amaravati, Director S. Stella.
However, she added that since the State has a long coast line, many factors, such as wind pattern or cyclonic conditions, if any, may advance or delay the onset of monsoon. 'The exact date will be known once the onset begins in Kerala,' she said.
While beginning of the monsoon would generally mean relief from scorching heat, there is a possibility that the temperatures may remain high even during June and July, said IMD, Amaravati, Senior Scientist S. Karunasagar, adding that in the year 2024, heatwaves were observed during these two months.