May will be rainier, cooler in city: IMD

The city is likely to get some respite from the sweltering heat in May, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Heatwave conditions in north and south interior Karnataka have abated and it’s likely to rain in Bengaluru for the next two days, said IMD Bengaluru director in-charge Geeta Agnihotri.

Since March 1, the city has received just 45 mm rainfall, a deficit of 21 mm. In April, the city received only 25.3 mm of pre-monsoon showers against the normal forecast of 44 mm. In March, the city received 19.9 mm rainfall against the forecast of 9.4 mm.

In short, there were fewer rainy days while the temperature was high. This summer, Bengaluru has seen only short spells of rain. The only exception being that HAL airport received 77 mm rainfall on March 15.

Agnihotri hoped there would be more rain in May. Parts of interior Karnataka are already receiving rainfall while clouds are hovering over Bengaluru. Though it hasn’t rained much, temperatures have come down.

Last year, the city had received 37.7 mm rainfall in May and 226.5 mm in April. In 2014, the city received 4.7 mm rainfall in May and 15 mm in April.

Ravi S Nanjundiah, chairman, Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, IISc, also forecast more rainy days for Bengaluru later this month.