Heavy rain in Tirupati as low pressure area forms off Tamil Nadu coast

Tirupati district received heavy rain in the 24 hours ending 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with Tada recording 109.8 mm, Satyavedu 85.4 mm and Tirupati Aero 76.4 mm, according to the Meteorological Centre in Amaravati. The district’s average of 49.5 mm was more than eight times its normal for the day.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a low-pressure area formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast at 5.30 a.m.

According to the Amaravati centre, thunderstorms with lightning are likely at isolated places in Prakasam, Nellore and parts of Rayalaseema on Thursday, and in most northern coastal districts, Prakasam, Nellore and most Rayalaseema districts on Friday. Strong winds of 30 to 40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely at isolated places across the State until Saturday morning. The centre forecasts isolated light to moderate rain through October 27, becoming scattered in the coastal districts on that day.

In an update based on 5.30 p.m. observations, the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC), Visakhapatnam, said the upper air circulation over the Gulf of Thailand had emerged into the north Andaman Sea. It is “very likely” to move west-northwestwards, and another low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23. The low is then likely to move northwestwards and intensify further.

P.L.N. Murthy, Head of the CWC, said Visakhapatnam would “definitely” receive rain around October 27, possibly from the evening of October 26.

Prakhar Jain, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), said that the low-pressure area could form by Friday and that heavy rain was likely in coastal Andhra Pradesh next week. He advised fishermen not to venture into the sea from Sunday and those already at sea to return before then.

According to the Amaravati centre, the State received 47.3 mm of rain from October 1 to 21 against a normal of 111.7 mm, a deficit of 58 per cent. Only Tirupati, Chittoor and Annamayya districts received more than their normal rainfall.