Andhra pradesh is witnessing an unexpected early onset of summer, with temperatures across various regions climbing significantly. after a brief winter spell, several districts are now recording daytime highs ranging from 34°c to 38°c, signaling a swift transition to warmer conditions.

On february 5th, nandigama in the ntr district emerged as the hottest spot, registering a temperature of 38.4°c. other notable high temperatures include kurnool at 37.3°c, amaravati at 36.5°c, anantapur at 36.1°c, nandyal at 36°c, jangamaheswarapuram at 35.8°c, machilipatnam and kavali both at 35.4°c, and gannavaram at 35°c. visakhapatnam's airport area recorded a temperature of 33.8°c on the same day.

Dr. S.Karuna Sagar, a scientist at the india meteorological department (imd) in amaravati, attributed this temperature rise to the absence of moisture in the atmosphere. he noted, "parts of the state are witnessing a rise in temperature due to the absence of moisture. maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal by 2-4°c over north coastal andhra pradesh, yanam, and south coastal andhra pradesh on friday (february 7), while the maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal by 2-3°c over rayalaseema on friday. shallow fog is likely at isolated pockets over coastal andhra pradesh."

The imd's forecast indicates that minimum temperatures in february are expected to remain above normal in most parts of the state. this combination of higher-than-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall could adversely affect standing horticulture and agriculture crops in certain regions.

Residents have expressed surprise at the sudden temperature increase. d. sudhakar, a resident of visakhapatnam, remarked, "though the mornings remain pleasant with shallow fog, we have been experiencing hot afternoons for the past few days. it seems to be early summer this year as summer-like conditions prevailed in the first week of february."

Typically, andhra pradesh's winter season spans from december to february. however, the recent rise in mercury levels suggests an early departure of winter. chintapalle in the alluri sitarama raju (asr) district, known for its cooler climate, has also reported noticeable temperature increases, underscoring the widespread nature of this warming trend.

The early arrival of higher temperatures raises concerns about potential heatwaves in the coming months. according to data from the district-wise heat threshold for heat wave alerts in india, regions like visakhapatnam have heat thresholds of 36.28°c, while chittoor's threshold stands at 36.34°c. with current temperatures already approaching these limits, the likelihood of heatwave conditions cannot be ruled out.