Cold, dry spell to continue for a few days in Karnataka: IMD

Dry and chilly weather conditions are expected to prevail over interior Karnataka regions during the next few days.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), minimum temperatures were appreciably below normal (-3.1 to 5 degrees) in South Interior Karnataka region. Minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 12-13 degrees in Bengaluru and surrounding districts during the period.

Minimum temperatures were also below normal in North Interior Karnataka districts, with cities such as Bidar registering temperatures around eight degrees below normal.

Speaking to DH, C S Patil, director, IMD, Bengaluru, said that the dip in temperature was due to lack of moisture and humidity levels.

“Conditions have been extremely dry, causing cold weather conditions,” he said, noting that the drop in temperature was more pronounced in interior Karnataka districts such as Bengaluru, Bidar and Kalaburagi.

Forecasts indicate that the situation will prevail for the next three to four days or more, depending on atmospheric circulations. “Moisture could flow to the mainland from the sea in the coming days, normalising the minimum temperature recorded,” he said.

Temperature recorded

In Bengaluru, the mercury had dipped to 12.4 degree Celsius at HAL in the city on Thursday morning, making it one of the coldest days this winter season. At KIAL and Bengaluru city, the minimum temperature recorded during the day was 12.8 and 14.5 degree Celsius respectively.

Other cities too witnessed cold conditions as the minimum temperature in Bidar was 10 degree Celsius, 8.1 degrees below normal. Similarly, Shivamogga registered 10.4 degree C, which was 6.1 degrees below normal and 11.8 in Mysuru, which was 5.7 degrees below normal.