Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is witnessing extreme weather swings, with a severe heatwave gripping large parts of the state even as rain and lightning lash coastal districts, prompting authorities to issue alerts and urge public caution.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rainfall and gusty winds across Andhra Pradesh over the next five days. Winds of up to 60 kmph are likely in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, while speeds of up to 40 kmph are expected in Rayalaseema.

Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on May 5 and 6, with thunderstorm activity expected to continue across Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema till May 7.

The State Disaster Management Authority said temperatures crossed 41°C in 286 mandals across 16 districts on Sunday, while isolated regions reported heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Gudur in Nellore district recorded the season’s highest temperature at 46.2°C, followed by Kopperapadu in Prakasam at 46.1°C.

Severe heat conditions prevailed in districts including Kadapa, Nellore, Tirupati, Prakasam, Palnadu, Markapuram, Nandyal, Chittoor, Kurnool and Bapatla. Authorities warned that heatwave conditions are likely to continue in 27 mandals across districts such as Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Polavaram, Eluru, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu and Nellore on Monday.

Other high temperatures recorded on Sunday included 45.7°C in Cumbum (Markapuram), 45.6°C in Bonupalle (Tirupati), 44.2°C in Nadigadda (Palnadu), 44°C in Karamchedu (Bapatla), 43.9°C in Thovi (Kurnool), 43.8°C in Thavanampalle (Chittoor), 43.4°C in Therannapalli (Anantapur) and Veeraballe (Kadapa), and 43.1°C in Banaganapalle (Nandyal) and Chilakallu (NTR).

Meanwhile, rainfall activity was reported in coastal and northern districts. Heavy rain was recorded by 5 pm in Mummidivaram (72.7 mm), Katrenikona (57.7 mm), Peddapuram (50.2 mm), Pithapuram (45.5 mm), Kakinada Rural (43 mm), Achutapuram (42 mm) and Kakinada Urban (41 mm).

According to Managing Director of the Disaster Management Authority Prakhar Jain, a north–south trough extending from south Chhattisgarh to the Comorin region across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is influencing the weather pattern.