Rain is forecast finally, after a long hiatus

Rain is forecast finally, after a long hiatus

Staff Reporter

Rain will bring much-deserved respite

The city can expect showers in the next day or two

Bangalore: After nearly two weeks of clear skies and blazing sunshine, uncharacteristic for Bangalore in November, clouds began to drift into view on Monday and it looks like rainy days could soon be back. The city can expect showers in the next day or two, according to officials at the meteorological centre here.

“The clouds we see are an indication of a low pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal. As the system intensifies into a depression, rainfall will be likely in south-interior Karnataka, including Bangalore,” said B. Puttanna, Director-in-charge. He added that parts of Tamil Nadu have already begun to receive rain after a similar hiatus.

This extended break in the Northeast monsoon, which set in on October 15, is unusual for the city said Mr. Puttanna. “This is because the wind direction changed from a northeast direction to a northerly one, which brought in dry wind from the northern plains.”

The dry winds and lack of moisture in the air explain the enormous difference between minimum and maximum temperature the past few weeks, he said. On Sunday, for instance, the maximum temperature in the city was a whopping 30 degrees Celsius while the minimum was just 19 degrees. But this gap will narrow with the clouds and rain, Mr. Puttanna added.

The rain will bring much-deserved respite to several parts of Karnataka, especially coastal districts, where the mercury has been rising relentlessly. Honnavar and Karwar saw temperatures rise to 35 degrees and 36 degrees respectively in the last two days. According to the meteorological centre’s forecast for the next 48 hours, the city will receive rain in the evening or night.