Light to moderate rain over the past 24 hours has brought much-needed relief to residents of Visakhapatnam, who had been grappling with heat through September.

The rainfall, triggered by the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, has so far remained largely moderate, but the continuous drizzle has provided a welcome respite from the soaring temperatures.

Residents are now hoping that the spell will continue for a few more days, not only to bring down temperatures but also to improve water availability in the coming months. With the district facing a substantial seasonal rainfall deficit, sustained rainfall is considered crucial for replenishing water sources.

Several parts of the city, including Kurmannapalem, Duvvada, Sheela Nagar and Gajuwaka, reported overflowing drains and water flowing onto roads following the rain. Civic teams were deployed on the ground to clear clogged drains and address waterlogging and other rain-related issues.

The impact of the rainfall was evident in the temperatures recorded across the city. By 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, the average temperatures in several areas, including Maharanipeta, Pendurthi, Anandapuram, Seethammadhara and Gopalapatnam, were around 24 degrees Celsius. This was a sharp contrast to the day temperatures recorded in recent days, which had hovered between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius.

According to data available on Andhra Pradesh Government portals, Visakhapatnam is currently facing a severe seasonal rainfall deficit of around 60.8%. The deficit has heightened concerns over water availability and the need for widespread rainfall across the region.

Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts saw intense heatwave conditions on Friday (June 5, 2026), with temperatures crossing the 40 degrees Celsius mark for the second time this season. The mercury climbed to its highest so far this year, bringing severe discomfort to residents across the region.

According to data from the State government’s automated weather stations, Anakapalli district recorded some of the highest temperatures in Andhra Pradesh. Vechalam in Devarapalli recorded 43.89 degrees Celsius, followed by Makavarapalem at 43.74 degrees Celsius, Bhalighattam in the Narsipatnam region at 43.36 degrees Celsius and Devarapalli at 42.84 degrees Celsius.

Several other places in Anakapalli district also faced extreme heat, with temperatures between 41 and 42 degrees Celsius. They included Madugula, Chodavaram, Cheedikada, Kannuripalem (Kasimkota) and Pamulavaka (Kotlavuratla). Other places, including Seethayyapeta (Butchayyapeta), Pedaboddepalli and K. Kotapadu, recorded more than 40 degrees Celsius. Temperatures hovered around 39 to 40 degrees Celsius at many places.

In Visakhapatnam district, Padmanabham was the hottest place, recording 41.62 degrees Celsius around 1 p.m. Akkireddipalem in Pendurthi followed closely at 41.51 degrees Celsius.

Other parts of the city also reported high temperatures. Anandapuram recorded 39.09 degrees Celsius, while Simhachalam registered 39 degrees Celsius. Gajuwaka recorded 38.88 degrees Celsius, followed by Maharanipeta at 37.5 degrees Celsius. Arilova reported a comparatively lower 36.8 degrees Celsius.

Apart from the soaring temperatures, residents complained of unusually high humidity, which made conditions very uncomfortable. Commuters, street vendors, traffic police personnel, office-goers and daily wage workers bore the brunt of the heat. Many residents said the humidity was noticeable as early as 9 a.m., making outdoor activity difficult through the day.

Unable to bear the scorching heat and humidity, many people stayed indoors. Water and buttermilk kiosks across the city saw a steady flow of customers.

Meanwhile, parents have begun to worry about schools reopening. Several urged the government to consider delaying the start of the academic year, noting that temperatures have stayed above 40 degrees Celsius through the past week. Some private schools are due to reopen from Monday (June 8, 2026), and parents are anxious about children travelling to and from school in the heat.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds hit Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Thursday (May 28, 2026), bringing brief relief from the summer heat of the past few days.

The rain, which fell on and off through the night and into the morning, was followed by cool breezes that kept the weather pleasant for a few hours. Several parts of the core city, including MVP Colony, Seethammadhara, Siripuram, Akkayyapalem, Jagadamba Junction, Gopalapatnam and Gajuwaka, received good rainfall.

The gusty winds brought down trees and branches on roads in a few places, including Siripuram in KRM Colony. The horticulture wing of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) cleared the fallen trees and debris early in the morning to restore traffic.

The relief was short-lived. Sunny weather returned later in the day, and heat and humidity continued to trouble residents. At 1 p.m., Pendurthi mandal recorded the city’s highest reading at 37.07 degrees Celsius, followed by Padmanabham at 36.43 and Gopalapatnam at 36.2, according to the Andhra Pradesh Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Most other parts of Visakhapatnam stayed between 34 and 35 degrees.

Visakhapatnam recorded 72% humidity in the afternoon, the highest among the major cities in the State, with a southeasterly wind of 14.8 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Among other cities, Tirupati was the hottest at 39 degrees Celsius and Anantapur the coolest at 33 degrees, while Amaravati-Gannavaram touched 41 degrees, as of 1 p.m., IMD data says.