Easterly winds usher in relatively warm December in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bengaluru residents are experiencing a slightly warmer December with daily temperatures above normal.

However, the India Meteorological Centre (IMD) forecasts heavy rain on Thursday in the city and light rain for the rest of the week.

The IMD has not yet declared winter in Bengaluru as the northeast monsoon is likely to extend beyond December and well into the first week of January, noted N Puviarasan, Scientist 'F' and Head, Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru.

After the cyclonic effect that brought very chilly winds into Bengaluru in the last week of November and the first two days of December, the rest of this month's first week has been relatively warm. 

"No rainfall in Kolar, Krishnagiri and further east into Tamil Nadu this past week means that strong warm easterly winds are blowing into Bengaluru, ensuring above normal minimum temperatures in the city. However, the minimum temperature in North Interior Karnataka will reduce by two degrees over the next few days," he said.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in Bengaluru as of Monday were 28.8°C and 18.9°C, respectively, a deviation of 1.9°C and 2.5°C from normal. For context, the daily mean maximum and minimum temperatures for December in Bengaluru between the 1981-2010 period were 26.5°C and 16.2°C, respectively. This is still not as high as the record of 31.4°C set on December 27, 2018.

Rain in parts of Bengaluru over the next few days, particularly heavy rainfall forecasted for Thursday, is expected to bring minimum temperatures down. However, as long as cloudy conditions persist with easterly winds, the minimum temperature might not fall below 18°C, Puviarasan added.

Forecast for Bengaluru, nearby areas till Wednesday 

Partly cloudy sky. Mist very likely in the early morning hours. Maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 30°C and 18°C, respectively.