Bengaluru set to get year’s first rain on January 13 & 14; mercury may dip

Bengaluru: After a cold and dry spell, Bengaluru is set to receive the first spell of rainfall this year on January 13 and 14, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

With shallow to moderate mist in isolated areas of Bengaluru, the city will likely receive light rains due to the formation of a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal, the IMD said. 

N Puviarasan, Head of Met Centre, Bengaluru, noted that an increase in the minimum temperature was observed due to easterly winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal. 

For the past two days, Bengaluru has been recording higher minimum temperatures, ranging between 16.3°C and 17.3°C. 

According to IMD data, the January mean daily minimum temperature for Bengaluru city is 15.8°C. On Friday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 17.3°C. HAL airport recorded 16.3°C and the Kempegowda International Airport 17°C. The latter was 2.6°C higher than normal. 

Though the daily minimum temperature is higher than usual, Puviarasan noted that the mercury would likely drop after January 14. 

He also explained that increased temperature does not have a direct effect on the formation of moderate fog or early morning mist. 

“Temperature and fog are not correlated. Fog can form even if the temperature crosses 20°C. Fog and mist are regulated by three conditions — lowered surface temperature, lowered winds and clear sky,” Puviarasan said. 

According to the IMD official, fog and mist may reduce due to easterly winds, which will likely cause rainfall in those two days. 

The lowest-ever minimum temperature recorded in Bengaluru was 7.8°C on January 13, 1884. The highest maximum temperature for January was 33.4°C on January 31, 2020.