Bengalureans were in for a special and cooling surprise on Saturday when they were greeted by cloudy sky followed by thunder showers.
Director of Indian Meteorogical Department (IMD)BPuttanna told Deccan Herald that though this is an unexpected phenomenon, Bengaluru received rainfall this year and last year (in this season). This is not only because of the increasing heat in the City, but also
because of system formations, he said.
"There is an upper air cyclonic circulation over Kumarin area extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level. This easterly wave is creating a low pressure area from east to west, because of this Tamil Nadu, Kerala, south and interior Karnataka are experiencing thunder showers.
There is also an upper air cyclonic circulation in north India. Here, the westerly winds are prevailing. This also bringing rainfall to the north Karnataka region and in another couple of days coastal Karnataka will also start receiving rainfall and Bengaluru is likely to receive heavy rainfall for the next two days. Thus, we have forecast thunder showers across the State in isolation for the next five days. There will also be a dip in temperatures," Puttanna (who retired on Saturday) said.
He clarified that this is not the mango showers. "These showers happen during the month of April. As on February 28, winter season has ended and summer will start from March 1. This is also called as the pre-monsoon shower season," he added.
The City recorded a maximum and minimum temperature of 32.4 and 21.4 degree Celsius on Saturday respectively. HAL airport recorded 31.9 and 20.1 degree Celsius respectively.
City and HAL airport received 0.6 mm and 2.8 mm rainfall.
Lightning claims life
Following overcast conditions during the day, several parts of Mysuru region received rainfall on Saturday.A man died after lightning stuck at Banasamudra village of Malavalli taluk in Mandy district. The deceased has been identified as Veeregowda (55). He was working on his field when the incident occurred.
According to the forecast by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell, overcast conditions with light showers are expected to prevail in the region for the next two to three days.
While rainfall was scattered in parts of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, Mandya district received fairly widespread rainfall. Parts of Srirangapatna taluk received 17mm and Mandya and Pandavapura taluks received 9mm rainfall during the day. Parts of KR Pet, Maddur and Nagamangala taluks in Mandya district also received rainfall.
Even though rainfall was scattered in Mysuru district, parts of Nanjangud taluk recorded 52mm rainfall. Scattered rainfall was also recorded in KR Nagar and Mysuru taluks, which received up to 20mm and 15mm rainfall, respectively, as of 7.30 pm on Saturday.
Chamarajanagar district, too, recorded good rainfall, with Yalandur and Gundlupet taluks receiving 33mm and 30mm rainfall, respectively. Chamarajanagar and Kollegal taluks also experienced showers during the day.
Hassan district did not receive any rainfall, save parts of Arsikere taluk, where passing showers were recorded.
In the first torrential rain that lashed the city this year, Saturday afternoon saw thunder showers in many areas. North, South and West parts of the city received heavy rain through the evening.
This is the effect of a upper air cyclonic circulation in the Comorin region near Kanyakumari in the Indian Ocean, metereological department sources said. The department has predicted rain and thunder showers in the city and in most parts of interior Karnataka for the
next five days. Meteorological Department Director B. Puttanna told
The Hindu that the upper air cyclonic circulation in the Comorin region was up to 0.9 km above the mean sea-
level and it was embedded in an eastern wave, which effected the eastern parts of the State. “Saturday is the last day of winter and the period from March 1 to
May 31 is pre-monsoon when the temperature is expected to peak. The first rain are expected post April 15. The rainfall now are cyclonic,” Mr. Puttanna
said.
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