Isolated heavy rain likely as southwest monsoon reaches Vizag

People enjoying the pleasant weather at RK Beach as Visakhapatnam witnessed light rain on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: KR DEEPAK

The southwest monsoon set in over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, including Visakhapatnam, on Wednesday. It usually arrives by June 12 or June 13. But this time, it arrived earlier.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the onset of the southwest monsoon marks the end of the summer.

“The monsoon set in almost all parts of the State, including Visakhapatnam, on Wednesday. It reached as far as Tekkali in Srikakulam district. As predicted earlier, the monsoon arrived in Visakhapatnam by the May-end, which is usually the hottest month of summer. Unlike the cumulonimbus clouds that remain vertical in summer, monsoon clouds drift horizontally for kilometers,”said IMD Scientist-C Karuna Sagar.

The advancement of monsoon in the State depends on various conditions, including low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal and wind patterns over the State.

“A low-pressure area has already formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal along the neighbouring Odisha coast. It is likely to develop into a depression by May 29 as well. Therefore, the advance of monsoon has been rapid after its onset in Kerala,” Mr. Sagar said.

A.P. State Disaster Management Authority Director Ronamki Kurmanath said north coastal Andhra Pradesh had been witnessing heavy rain for the past two days.

Santhabommali in Srikakulam district recorded 152.4 mm of rain in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. Ichchapuram recorded 31.5 mm of rain by 5 pm on Wednesday.

Due to active monsoon conditions, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places and light to moderate rain at many places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next two days, he said.

The continuous rain in the catchment areas of the State’s water bodies may cause flash floods. The district administrations have already been instructed to be on alert. Home Minister V. Anitha has asked the officials to put up warning boards near water bodies to prevent drowning incidents, he added.

Andhra Pradesh receives more than 70% of its annual rainfall during the southwest monsoon season from June to September.

Published - May 29, 2025 09:11 am IST