Bengaluru braces for early monsoon as Karnataka set for above-normal rainfall

Bengaluru rain

Karnataka is on high alert this week as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts an early arrival of the southwest monsoon, with Bengaluru and several other districts already experiencing pre-monsoon showers and thunderstorms, according to a report by New Indian Express.

The monsoon, which typically enters Karnataka in early June, is now expected to arrive by the end of May, possibly as soon as May 28, according to IMD projections. Parts of Bengaluru witnessed light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday, with similar weather conditions likely to persist throughout the week.

IMD officials have indicated that the southwest monsoon will likely set over Kerala by May 27, with a margin of three to four days. “Normally, it takes four days for the monsoon to travel from Kerala to Karnataka. Hopefully, Karnataka will welcome the monsoon by May-end,” CS Patil, meteorologist at IMD Bengaluru, was quoted by TOI.

Should there be any meteorological disturbances such as a trough or upper-air circulation, experts caution that the monsoon’s entry could be delayed by a few days, possibly arriving around June 1 or 2.

Forecast models suggest Karnataka will see about 20% more rainfall than average this season, with the south-interior and parts of north-interior districts expected to receive the bulk of the excess precipitation.

The coastal and Malnad regions are also likely to witness heavy downpours, while other areas should see above-normal rainfall, GS Srinivasa Reddy, former director of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre was reported as saying by New Indian Express.

In the lead-up to the monsoon, widespread light to moderate rainfall has been reported across Karnataka, with isolated heavy showers in several districts. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for parts of the state, warning of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, particularly from May 12 to 16. Bengaluru, along with districts such as Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Dharwad and Ballari, is expected to receive heavy rain and winds reaching up to 60 km/h.

The pattern of rainfall is set to continue, with steady showers forecast for both coastal and interior regions, including Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Vijayapura, Kalaburgi, Raichur, Mysuru and Tumakuru. The heaviest downpours are expected in the Western Ghats and coastal districts, while drought-prone areas like Vijayapura and Bagalkote could benefit from normal rainfall this year, according to a report by The News Minute.

Nationally, the IMD has projected that India will receive above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, with the countrywide average expected to be 104 - 105% of the long-period average. For Karnataka, this bodes well for agriculture and water resources, especially as reservoirs and groundwater levels are poised to benefit from the early and abundant rains.