Bengaluru has witnessed an unusually long dry spell, this pre-monsoon season. Light rains happened way back in the first week of January and a drought thereafter. Entire South India has observed parched conditions during March and April. Seasonal deficiency in the sub-divisions is as large as 70% to 90%. South Interior Karnataka has a seasonal shortfall of 74%. Bengaluru, urban and rural, both have literally gone without a drop of rain, so far. So is the case with neighbouring Chamrajnagar, Chikballapur, Kolar, Mandya and Mysuru.
In the absence of rain, the temperature has been soaring in the high 30’s for over 10 days. The mercury has persistently remained above 37°C since 21st April and reached or crossed 38°C on four days during this period. It reached its highest of 38.5°C on 28th April. April was one of the record-hot months for Tech City. Relief is likely and the pre-monsoon showers are expected to commence next week.
Pre monsoon Peninsular India trough remained silent, throughout the season, so far. Its activation and oscillation was the least, since the beginning of the season. Parts of Kerala and Coastal Karnataka were the small beneficiaries of this feature. North and South Interior Karnataka were the largest looser. This jinx is likely to break soon.
North-South trough from Telangana to Kerala, with an embedded cyclonic circulation is getting activated, very soon. Light and isolated rain will start over the extreme South Peninsula, anytime now. The trough will get fueled with adequate moisture, around the start of the next week. Light sporadic showers for the city may commence on 06th May itself. However, pre-monsoon activity will be more forceful between 07th and 11th May. Isolated heavy showers are likely in some places during this period. The mercury will drop from 07thonward and a pleasant weekend seems to be shaping up on 11th and 12th May.
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Image Credit: The Hindu