Andhra Pradesh: At 5°C, Chintapalle in ASR district records coldest day

VISAKHAPATNAM: Chintapalle in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district recorded its coldest day of the current winter season on Thursday (January 8), with the minimum temperature dropping to 5°C. This was nearly four degrees below the seasonal average, forcing residents to bring out heavy woollens as Chintapalle and several other parts of the district experienced an unusual cold spell.The Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) at Chintapalle, the primary weather station in ASR district, recorded minimum temperatures of 5°C on January 8, 6°C on January 7, and 6°C on December 9, 2025. Officials said people experienced freezing conditions on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. They added that the minimum temperature may further dip to 4°C during the Sankranti festival period.It may be recalled that on January 8, 2023, Chintapalle recorded its lowest-ever temperature of 1.5°C. Thin ice sheets were seen on grasslands and on vehicles parked in open areas in some parts of the district during the early morning hours.Dense fog enveloped many areas of ASR district on Thursday morning, with visibility dropping below 100 metres. The fog disrupted morning commutes, with slow-moving traffic reported on major roads as drivers struggled with poor visibility.Motorists said dense fog continues to affect ghat roads across the district, creating risky travel conditions due to reduced visibility.According to RARS officials, most parts of ASR district recorded minimum temperatures between 5°C and 7°C on Thursday.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dry weather conditions are likely to prevail over most parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema in the coming days. Fog or mist is expected at isolated places across the state. Over the past few days, several areas in Andhra Pradesh have recorded minimum temperatures ranging between 14°C and 20°C.