Bengaluru receives first pre-monsoon showers

Bengaluru received the first pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday as several areas in the city received light rainfall, while some areas experienced hailstorms for a short duration.

The light showers started around 3.30 p.m., bringing respite to the rising temperatures.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) observation data, the three weather stations — Bengaluru City, HAL Airport, and Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) — received trace rainfall till 5.30 p.m.

Bengaluru City recorded a maximum temperature of 32.3°C and a minimum of 21.4°C, while HAL Airport recorded a maximum and minimum of 32°C and 20.6°C. KIA recorded 33.7°C and 20.4°C respectively.

IMD officials said that Bengaluru will continue to receive light rainfall in the next two to three days.

“Bengaluru received its first pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday (March 17). However, other parts of the State have been receiving pre-monsoon showers over the last few days. Bengaluru will continue to receive light rainfall over the next two three days. The rainfall will not be widespread; only some areas will receive rainfall,” said IMD Scientist C.S. Patil.

Hailstorm for a while

N. Puviarasan, head, Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru, said the city experienced a a hailstorm for a short duration.

The IMD forecast for the city and the neighborhood for the next 36 hours is: “Partly cloudy sky, rain and thundershowers very likely towards evening and night. The maximum and minimum temperature are very likely to be around 33°C and 21°C respectively.”

Mr. Patil said that there will be strong winds, thundershowers, and lightning along with a few incidents of hailstorms across the State.

Other parts

According to IMD’s forecast for March 18, coastal Karnataka will receive light to moderate rain/thundershowers at one or two places in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. For north interior Karnataka, the forecast is light to moderate rain/thundershowers with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at one or two places in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts. “Dry weather is likely to prevail over the remaining districts,” the forecast states.

In south interior Karnataka, there will be light to moderate rain/thundershowers with gusty wind (40-50 kmph) at a few places in Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan, Kodagu, Davanagere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru (Rural), Bengaluru (Urban), Tumakuru, Bengaluru South, and Mandya districts.