New Delhi: The northeast monsoon is set to start in South Interior Karnataka while the southwest monsoon is about to make a retreat from the state in the next two days.
As the northeast monsoon begins, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for nine districts in South Interior Karnataka on October 16 and 17, while predicting widespread heavy rainfall. These districts are Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Ramanagar, Kolar, Mysuru, Mandya,Kodagu and Hassan.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in coastal Karnataka and parts of South Interior Karnataka from October 14 to 18, widespread heavy rainfall is likely in many places of the state, with a gradual decrease in rainfall expected later. The prediction follows the formation of low-pressure systems in the East Arabian Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal on October 12.
According to IMD scientist C S Patil, the current weather systems in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal made it favourable for the onset of the northeast monsoon. He pointed out that widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state for the next five days would be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and squall.
Heavy rain since morning
There have been spells of rain since the last week in Bengaluru. And it has raining heavily since the morning on Tuesday (October 15). Due to the rain that started in the wee hours of the morning, the daily activities in the city have seen disruptions. However, those providing essential services are on duty.
Bengaluru residents are looking forward to a wet week ahead as heavy rains are forecast to persist. As per the latest weather report from the IMD, Bengaluru witnessed a maximum temperature of 25.4°C and a minimum temperature of 20.7°C over the past 24 hours, with a recorded rainfall of 3.3 mm.
72mm of rain till now in October
Till now, the IMD’s Bengaluru city observatory has recorded 72 mm of rain in October. In Bengaluru, the average total rainfall for October is 168.3 mm, which makes it the second wettest month of the year following September. The IMD suggests that Bengaluru city is likely to witness at least eight days of rain in October. This September was the driest in Bengaluru since 1932. However, in October, rain will bring respite to the city. In the coming days, heavy rain is expected to continue, and there will generally be cloudy sky accompanied by substantial downpours from October 14 to October 17.
