IMD warning: Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds to continue across Karnataka until May 31

Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy rain warnings for several parts of Karnataka, predicting severe thunderstorms, lightning and strong, gusty winds across the state.

In the official bulletin, N Puviarasan, Scientist 'F' and Head of the Meteorological Centre stated that while day temperature remains high, a sudden shift in atmospheric conditions during the afternoon is triggering intense pre-monsoon activity.

The IMD put Bengaluru under an Orange Alert on Thursday because of the high risk of severe lightning and sudden storm winds blowing as fast as 40 to 50 kmph. The city received 0.3 mm and HAL received trace rainfall. Over the weekend, the storm intensity will drop slightly to a Yellow Alert from May 29 to May 31.

According to the five-day outlook, the city will see partly cloudy skies becoming generally cloudy toward the afternoon and evening on Friday, bringing light to moderate rain and thundershowers with gusty winds up to 30 to 40 kmph. Saturday will bring similar cloudy intervals with scattered rain showers, while Sunday and Monday will see a return of evening thunderstorms and steady rain with temperatures dipping slightly to 31°C.

The stormy weather is affecting other parts of Karnataka as well. North Karnataka is under a strict Orange Alert until May 29 for dangerous lightning and very strong winds, before dropping to a Yellow Alert on May 30. Coastal Karnataka is under a Yellow Alert until May 31, with a steady forecast of daily rain showers and strong sea winds.

Because sudden, dangerous storms can hit over the next two days, authorities have asked everyone to be very careful. When a storm starts, citizens should go inside a safe, permanent building immediately and avoid standing or parking under old trees, large billboards, or electric poles.

Farmers are also advised to cover and protect any harvested crops left out in open fields. Officials say the weather should finally return to normal across the state between June 1 and June 3 as the monsoon system stabilizes.