Cloudy skies, gusty winds over Visakhapatnam; IMD forecasts thunderstorms

Rain clouds rolled in from the Bay of Bengal over Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) afternoon, bringing a break from the heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms and gusty winds for north coastal Andhra Pradesh over the coming days.

The clouds came after a hot, humid afternoon. The IMD put the day’s high at 35.6 degrees Celsius, recorded at the Kailasagiri station in Visakhapatnam.

Andhra Pradesh Directorate of Economics and Statistics (APDES) gauges showed the Government Eye Hospital station at Seethammadhara recording 3.11 mm and the Town Service Reservoir 1.25 mm by 2 p.m. Most city mandals, among them Maharanipeta, Mulagada and Anandapuram, reported no rain. But the wind kept up and the sky stayed grey.

In its bulletin, the Meteorological Centre, Amaravati, said light to moderate rain or thundershowers were likely at one or two places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. It warned of thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places, and of gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph. Hot and humid conditions were also likely at isolated places, it said.

The district figured in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh group in the forecast, along with Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari and West Godavari.

The heaviest rain fell over the northern districts. According to APDES, Vepada in Vizianagaram received 88.35 mm in the cumulative window from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the highest in the State. Gandhavaram in Anakapalli’s Chodavaram mandal recorded 64 mm and Devarapalle 55 mm. In Srikakulam, Kotabommali, Tekkali and Santhabommali recorded between 37 and 45 mm.

Social media forecasters flag heavy rain

Amateur weather watchers on X said parts of the city could see heavier rain. The handle Andhra Pradesh Weatherman (@praneethweather) said the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, mainly Gajuwaka, NAD, Simhachalam and Anakapalle, could see a heavy downpour within the hour, though central areas such as Dwaraka Nagar, Beach Road and Madhurawada might get only light rain or a passing shower.

Another X handle, Vizag Weatherman (@vizagweatherma9), said Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Srikakulam and Araku could see thunderstorms and rain through the afternoon.