Mercury touches 48.1°C in Piduguralla, second highest in A.P. since 2016

Piduguralla in Palnadu district broke the last 10-year record by recording 48.1°C on Thursday, May 21, a day after recording 47.6°C; This is a first for the region since 2016. This is also the second highest temperature recorded in the state since 2016.

According to data compiled by AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Piduguralla’s temperatures remained below 45.5°C between 2016 and 2025. The town’s lowest maximum temperature was recorded as 42°C in 2016, and the highest maximum temperature during this period was recorded as 45.5°C in 2019.

Piduguralla’s temperature on Thursday was the second highest recorded in the state after Velingandla in Prakasam district, which touched 48.6°C on May 2, 2016.

The highest temperatures recorded in the 2016-2025 season are: Veligandla 48.6°C in 2016, Tanguturu in Prakasam 47.8°C in 2017, Marripadu in Nellore and Dachepalle in Palnadu 45.6°C in 2018, Ibrahimpatam in Krishna district 47.3°C in 2019, Pamidimukkala in Krishna, Kanigiri in Bhattiprolu and Prakasam districts in Guntur 47.8°C in 2020, Pedapadu in West Godavari district 45.9°C in 2021, Gudur in Tirupati 45.9°C in 2022, Rajamahendravaram Rural in East Godavari 46.8°C, Gospadu in Nandyal district 47.7°C in 2024 and Panyam 44°C in Nandyal in 2025.

S. Karunasagar, Senior Scientist, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, said that May is considered to be the hottest month in AP, and temperatures rise further as westerly/northwest winds reach the state, as is the case now. The state will continue to see severe heat conditions for the next three days, he added.

IMD, in a special statement on Thursday, said ‘severe heatwave’ is likely in East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, NTR, Krishna, Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, SPSR Nellore districts on May 23 and 24 and has issued heatwave warnings for the above-mentioned districts till May 26.

Rain is likely

Meanwhile, light scattered rains are expected in Alluri Sitharama Raju, Polavaram, Nellore and parts of Rayalaseema due to the influence of surface trough.

While Palnadu districts experienced scorching heat on Thursday, it was followed by Prakasam, Krishna, Eluru, Bapatla, NTR, Guntur and Markapuram. APSDMA Director General Prakhar Jain said temperatures exceeded 45°C in 18 districts and 200 mandals out of total 688 mandals in the state recorded 44°C and above.

highest temperatures

Temperatures at various stations: 48.1°C at Piduguralla, 47.6°C at Vetapalem in Bapatla district and Nandivada in Krishna district, 47.4°C at Torragudipadu in NTR and Addanki in Prakasam district, 47.3°C at Allipalli in Eluru district, 46.6°C at Nandanamarella in Markapuram, Polavaram 46.5°C in Kunavaram of district, 46.4°C in Kavali of Nellore and 46°C in Tenali of Guntur district.