Bengaluru sees hottest day of the year; mercury may rise further today

Bengaluru: Bengaluru has reported the hottest day of the year, with the maximum temperature hitting 34.6°C on Friday afternoon, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

IMD data shows that the maximum temperature recorded by the Bengaluru city observatory on Friday was 1.9°C above normal. Similarly, the maximum temperature on Saturday was 34.4°C. 

As per the IMD forecast, the maximum temperature will reach 35°C on Sunday, while the minimum temperature for the rest of next week is expected to be around 19°C. 

"The maximum temperature in Bengaluru might go up to 39°C between April and second week of May," said C S Patil, Scientist E and Director, Meteorological Centre. The temperature might decrease from the third week onwards, he added. 

This phenomenon is not limited to Bengaluru, as maximum temperatures are expected to be 2-4°C above normal in North Interior Karnataka in the coming days. Kalaburagi, for example, has already hit 39.2°C, which is about 2°C above normal. In May, several districts in NIK, including Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Raichur and Bagalkot, may see maximum temperatures touch 45°C, Patil said. 

"Rapid urbanisation and the heat island effect are the biggest factors for this rise in temperatures in Bengaluru and across the state. The atmosphere is also very stable so no cloud formation is possible," he told DH. 

Dry weather is likely to prevail over Karnataka until Monday, after which, isolated light rain is very likely to occur across South Interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru, on March 11 and 12, due to a system developing over Tamil Nadu. The IMD predicts a higher likelihood of isolated light rainfall across Coastal Karnataka, especially Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. 

Although maximum temperatures are above normal in many parts of the state, there are no heatwave warnings currently. However, hot and humid conditions will likely prevail over coastal Karnataka for the next two days. 

Patil said that a warning could reasonably be expected for North Interior Karnataka within a couple of weeks. 

The number of heatwave days will be above normal for North Interior Karnataka this year, while heatwave warnings for Coastal Karnataka will be normal in March, just as they were announced last year.

Highlights - Rising heat in B'luru 34.6 degrees C Friday (1.9 above normal) 34.4 Saturday 35 expected Sunday North Interior K'taka Maximum temp to be 2-4 degrees above normal

Quote - Rapid urbanisation and the heat island effect are the biggest factors for this rise in temperatures in Bengaluru and across the state. The atmosphere is also very stable so no cloud formation is possible

--C S Patil Director Meteorological Centre