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The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
APSDMA launches ‘Smart Heat Alert Card' that gives real-time temperatures and dos and don'ts
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has launched a 'Smart Heat Alert Card', available both in physical and online formats, to provide citizens with timely and critical heatwave information, and to ensure public safety during heatwaves. Launching the card at the APSDMA office at Tadepalli on May 17, Saturday, G. Jayalakshmi, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, said the initiative is aimed at empowering every citizen with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against heatwave risks. The card features a QR code, a list of dos and don'ts and an explanatory on four colour-coded heat risk levels. After receiving the card, once an individual scans the QR code from their mobile phone, the APSDMA website comes up with the realtime temperature in their location presented in a colour-coded box. If the temperature is below 35 degree Celsius, the colour that appears is blue (safe), if it is between 35 and 40 degree Celsius, then it is yellow (be alert), if the temperature is between 41 and 44 degree Celsius, then it is orange (be prepared) and if it is 45 degree Celsius or more, it is red (extreme danger). While distributing these cards along with buttermilk and water bottles to citizens in Tadepalli and surrounding areas, the Chief Secretary emphasised the importance of staying informed about dos and don'ts during extreme heat conditions. She also encouraged citizens to call the APSDMA tollfree numbers, 1070/1800-425-0101, available 24/7, in case of any emergencies during summers. APSDMA Managing Director Ronanki Kurmanath said one can not only get live updates through the QR code but also guidelines to stay safe. He said the card is part of their ongoing efforts to protect citizens from the dangers of heatwaves. The APSDMA has forwarded the card to all the district administrations, who would later put it in public places and popularise it through online mediums as well.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Why do Andhra Pradesh and Telangana get so hot during the summer?
On May 12, 17 districts of Andhra Pradesh recorded temperature above 41° C, with the A.P. State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) saying heatwave-like conditions are set to prevail in the northern districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Paravathipuram-Manyam and East Godavari, and Kakinada. Mercury levels surged past the 40° C mark across all 33 districts of Telangana on April 21. Adilabad was the hottest with a maximum temperature of 44° C, according to data from the Telangana Development Planning Society. Situated on the eastern side of the Deccan plateau in South India, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana feature regularly on the list of Indian States most prone to heatwaves during the summer. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana experience very hot summers due to a mix of geographical and climatic reasons. First up: the geographical location of the States. Latitudinally, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana fall under the Tropic of Cancer. This puts the States in the Torrid (or tropical) Zone – a region characterised by its hot and humid weather. 'Both AP and Telangana are near the Tropic of Cancer, therefore the sun is vertically above these States during summer months, leading to increased solar radiation and heating,' Mahesh Palawat, Vice president Meteorology and climate Change at Skymet, told The Hindu. Telangana experiences an additional layer of continental climate too. Telangana is a landlocked State, with no major water bodies nearby to moderate temperatures. As a result, it experiences a continental climate, where temperatures can rise sharply during the day. This is also true for interior districts of Andhra Pradesh, which are far from the sea. According to Mr. Palawat, most parts of Telangana lie on the rocky terrain of the Deccan plateau with black soil, which absorbs more heat, causing temperatures to spike. 'Land surface, terrain and green cover make a lot of difference to the temperature of an area,' Vimal Mishra, professor at IIT Gandhinagar, told The Hindu. 'If you compare these States to regions which are under intensive agriculture or have dense forests, those areas are much cooler due to evaporative cooling,' he said. Evaporative cooling is a process that leads to a reduction in temperature of the surroundings as water evaporates. Water requires energy to convert from liquid to gaseous state. In drier climates, when water evaporates, it takes up heat from the surroundings as its source of energy to convert to vapour, thus cooling the surroundings. 'The terrain of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is rocky and there isn't much agriculture during summer at least, and effect of irrigation is minimal,' Dr. Mishra said. He also said that there is ample research to show that irrigation makes a lot of difference to summer air temperatures, and it can reduce dry bulb temperatures and suppress heatwaves. This phenomenon is very well pronounced in areas like the Indo-Gangetic plains, he added. 'Irrigation involves using water on land surface, which is stored as soil moisture. During high temperatures in summer, evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants causes evaporative cooling in the area, reducing the intensity of heatwaves,' Dr. Mishra said. The rocky terrain of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana does not allow for this phenomenon to be pronounced enough for it to make a difference in temperatures. Lack of sufficient rainfall is another factor that leads to high summer temperatures in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 'Between March and May, these States don't get enough rainfall to cool down the temperatures. Monsoon reaches here after June 10. This causes less cloud cover and more sunshine, hence leading to higher temperatures,' Mr. Palawat said. Loss of forest cover also leads to reduction in evapotranspiration, leading to increase in localised temperatures. According to the State of Forest Report 2023, Andhra Pradesh lost 138.66 sq km of forest cover compared to the 2021 assessment, while Telangana lost 100.42 sq km. Challenges and mitigation According to Dr. Mishra, the absence of early warnings forecast system based on hourly observations is one of the biggest challenges to mitigating heatwaves. 'The India Meteorological Department has started working in this area, but lot of progress is still to be made.' Understanding the risk is the first step towards mitigating impact of heat waves, which should be followed by differentiating districts based on dry heat and humid heat, Dr. Mishra said. 'Early warning systems have proven to be very effective for heatwaves, but they remain ineffective because we don't understand the differential risk – heat challenges require different solutions based on the local nature of impacts,' he said.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Mercury crosses 43 Degrees Celsius at four places
Vijayawada: Temperature levels increased further in the State on Monday. More than 43 degrees Celsius reported in four places and more than 42 degrees Celsius reported at three places. Kakani village in Narasaraopet mandal registered the highest temperature in the State with 43.7 degrees Celsius. Inkollu village of Bapatla mandal and Juvvinigunta village of Prakasam district recorded 43.5 degrees Celsius and 43.3 degrees respectively. Moguluru village of NTR district recorded 43.1 degrees Celsius. Four places recorded more than 42 degrees Celsius and 116 places reported more than 41 degrees Celsius in the State. The mercury levels are gradually increasing with each passing day forcing the elderly people, sick and children to stay indoors during daytime. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has predicted severe heatwaves in 22 mandals and heat waves in 36 mandals on Tuesday. The APSDMA has suggested the people to be cautious due to increasing temperature levels and take precautions while going out in the scorching heat.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Mercury goes past 41°C in 17 districts in Andhra Pradesh
Temperatures rose at many places on Monday in Andhra Pradesh as 17 districts recorded above 41 degrees Celsius, according to information from A.P. State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA). According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the day's highest temperature was recorded in Amaravati at 41.3 degrees Celsius. However, the APSDMA bulletin said the highest temperature recorded was 43.7 degrees Celsius in Kakani of Palnadu district. It is followed by Inkollu of Bapatla district at 43.5 degrees Celsius, Juvvigunta in Prakasam district at 43.3 degrees Celsius and Moguluru in NTR district at 43.1 degrees Celsius. Pointing out that the mercury would remain high on Tuesday as well, APSDMA Managing Director Ronanki Kurmanath said people need to be careful before venturing out of their houses. Heatwave-like conditions would prevail in the northern districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Paravathipuram-Manyam and East Godavari and Kakinada, while a few places in Rayalaseema are likely to see thunderstorms and rain on Tuesday, according to the APSDMA. The high temperatures are expected to be followed by rain in the State. Meanwhile, the IMD said isolated places may witness thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, until May 18, while light to moderate rains are likely in isolated places in the State from May 14.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Scorching heat grips the State, temperature soars above 400C
Vijayawada: As the State is passing the midsummer, more than 40 degrees Celsius temperature is recorded in 140 places in the State on Sunday. The highest temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius recorded at two places. Peddadornala village of Dornala mandal and Jaggilibonthu village of Pathapatnam mandal in Srikakulam district registered the highest temperature. More than 41 degrees temperature reported in eight places in the State, which is reeling under scorching heat and heat waves. Ojili in Tirupati district, Yerrampeta on ASR district, Penuganchiprolu of NTR district, Pipally of Chittoor district, Palther village of Badangi district, Vizianagaram district, Krosuru of Palnadu district, Narmalapadu village of Karempudi mandal, Palnadu district and Navagam village of Palakonda mandal and Parvathipuram Manyam district reported more 41 to 42.8 degrees Celsius. Due to Sunday, most people stayed at homes. Besides, more than 40 degrees temperature reported in 11 places and 38-39 degrees Celsius reported in 10 places. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) forecast 42-43 degrees Celsius may be reported in some parts of AP on Monday. APSDMA Managing Director Ronaki Kurmanath, on Sunday, said that severe heatwave conditions will prevail in 29 mandals on Monday. Six mandals in Srikakulam district, nine mandals in Vizianagaram, 10 mandals in Parvathipuram manyam district, three mandals in Kakinada and one mandal in East Godavari will experience severe heat waves on Monday. Besides, 41 mandals may face heat wave conditions in the state. Kurmanath suggested people to take precautions while going outside in high temperatures. He also suggested people to wear cap or tie a kerchief to cover their ears and head, adding that people suffering from blood pressure and diabetes not to go outside in the high temperature to avoid health complications. Due to closure of educational institutions, traffic is also less in morning and evening hours in cities like Vijayawada.
