What happened

Background and earlier position

El Niño becomes very strong when Pacific sea-surface temperatures rise beyond about 2°C above threshold levels. Earlier heatwaves and drought-linked impacts caused major fatalities and pushed disaster-management institutional changes in Andhra Pradesh.

The 2023 episode gave Andhra Pradesh some learning, including lower heat-stroke deaths than in earlier experience, but timely and precise weather advisories remain a continuing weak link.