The southwest monsoon set in over Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, the meteorological department in Hyderabad said on Monday.

Meteorological Centre Director C V V Bhadram told rediff.com the monsoon has covered the Rayalaseema region, most parts of Telangana, except Adilabad district, and south coastal Andhra Pradesh up to East Godavari district.

The onset of the monsoon was delayed by a week.

The delay led to a severe heat wave that lasted about four weeks and claimed as many as 1,421 lives.

With the onset of rains, the mercury levels came down all over the state. The maximum temperature of 38.6 degree Celsius was recorded in Anantapur town.

Light to moderate rain is likely to occur at many places over coastal Andhra and Telangana and a few places over Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours, the met office said.