Mercury spikes in Bengaluru, but IMD rules out early onset of summer

Bengaluru: Bengaluru, known for its pleasant weather, is experiencing unexpectedly high temperatures this year.

The minimum temperatures have been above normal across Karnataka including Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and parts of north interior Karnataka.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) states that the rising temperatures do not indicate a shift in seasonal patterns or an early onset of summer, the meteorological centre has warned that the warm weather will persist for more than a week.

N Puviarasan, head of the Bengaluru Met Centre, attributed warmer temperatures to the presence of easterly winds in the atmosphere.

“Usually around this time of year, Bengaluru experiences northeasterly winds, which are cooler. However, a change in anticyclonic movement in the Bay of Bengal has led to easterly winds blowing towards southern parts of India,” he said, adding that this rise in temperature is not directly linked to global warming or climate change, as this is a regional phenomenon, influenced by the anticyclonic movement.

According to the IMD, minimum temperatures are likely to be 3-5°C higher than normal in coastal Karnataka and 2-4°C higher in interior Karnataka.

On Sunday, Bengaluru city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.2°C, which is 1.4°C above normal. HAL Airport and KIA recorded maximum temperatures of 33°C and 32.8°C, respectively, 1.7°C and 1.5°C above normal.

Similarly, the minimum temperatures in HAL, Bengaluru city and KIA were 18.5°C, 19.7°C and 19.3°C, respectively, which is 1.3°C, 1.3°C and 3.3°C above normal.

In Bengaluru, the highest maximum temperature recorded in February was 35.9°C, recorded on February 17, 2005, according to the IMD. The IMD has forecast a partly cloudy sky with fog or mist likely in early morning hours in some areas till Tuesday morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 33°C and 19°C respectively.