Warm days likely through the week for Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bengaluru residents are likely to experience hotter days for the rest of this week till next Monday when northeasterly winds begin to blow towards the city, according to IMD scientists.

The warm conditions have persisted since last weekend, when the maximum temperatures jumped by over two degree Celsius.

The maximum temperature over the past three days has hovered above 31℃, as against the normal maximum of 29.5℃. Days have felt longer and hotter, with the sun beating down on the city during the afternoons.

According to the IMD, this is because easterly winds blowing from the Tamil Nadu region have prevailed during this period, bringing warm winds to Bengaluru and the rest of South Interior Karnataka. 

After a week, northeasterly winds are likely to blow towards the city, bringing cooler air that will bring the temperature down by a few degrees, noted Dr N Puviarasan, Scientist F and Head, Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru.

The meteorological centre recorded a maximum temperature of 31.9℃ on Monday, which is a 2.4℃ departure from the normal of 29.5℃. 

Similarly, the Bengaluru city observatory of the IMD recorded a maximum temperature of 32.5℃ on Sunday and 32.2℃ on Saturday. The biggest difference in the past week was observed when the maximum temperature rose from 29.9℃ to 31.4℃ between January 30 and 31.

“However, this is not a huge difference from the monthly normal temperatures. The sudden temperature rise over the last three days is because of the easterly winds. We are expecting to have cooler days from next week northeasterly winds blow towards South Interior Karnataka next week,” he told DH.

The mean daily minimum and maximum temperatures for the month of February between 1981 and 2010 was 17.5℃ and 30.7℃ respectively, indicating that the rise in temperatures is not unusual. 

IMD has noted that there is no rainfall predicted for the next week. This rise in temperature is also not indicative of an early onset of summer, scientists clarified. Winter season will continue till the end of February and pre-monsoon season, which sees cyclone formations, will normally occur between March and May.

The mean daily minimum and maximum temperatures for the month of February between 1981 and 2010 was 17.5℃ and 30.7℃ respectively, indicating that the rise in temperatures is not unusual.

The heating and cooling is also faster due to air being dry and the skies being clear. Another scientist from IMD noted a higher variation between maximum and minimum temperatures. 

There is a strong anticyclonic circulation in central India, which is bringing stable air and doesn’t allow cloud formation over Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as well, the scientist noted.

IMD has also noted that there is no rainfall predicted for the next week. Winter season will continue till the end of February and pre-monsoon season, which sees cyclone formations, will normally occur between March and May.