Bengaluru sizzles as mercury soars 3 degrees Celsius above normal

Bengaluru: The city continued to bake under a relentless sun as maximum temperature hovered around 36.5 degrees Celsius, a good 2.3 degrees Celsius departure from the normal for mid-April on Tuesday.

Residents seeking relief from the sweltering heat may have to wait another week for summer showers.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted mainly clear skies and sustained high temperatures for another four days.

The Bengaluru KIAL Airport recorded a maximum of 36.8 degrees Celsius, while the HAL Airport station clocked 36.4 degrees Celsius. Both stations reported temperatures roughly 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

IMD Scientist CS Patil warned that heat will increase for another week, with temperatures in Bengaluru ranging between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in the coastal and northern districts of the state will be high, ranging around 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. The highest recorded temperature for mid-April was 39.4 degrees Celsius, in 2023-24.

A strong anti-cyclonic circulation over central India is driving the conditions. Temperatures will be high not only during the day, but also at night, he said.

Heatwave grips state

Kalaburagi recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 41.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Bidar at 41.6 and Raichur at 41.4 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has issued a hot and humid warning for Coastal Karnataka, including Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, valid for the next five days.

Despite the heat, parts of the state witnessed spells of rain.

Dharwad recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning, while Shivamogga received 8.8 mm.

The forecast for the coming week suggests isolated light rain and thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph may occur in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Hassan.

For Bengalureans, the IMD indicated that dry weather is likely to prevail across the district for the week.