Bengaluru Sizzles Through Unusual July Heat As Monsoon Remains Weak

Bengaluru is witnessing an unusual spell of July heat, with daytime temperatures staying well above normal as monsoon activity remains weak across Karnataka.

The city recorded its second straight day of warmer-than-usual weather on Wednesday. While July is typically associated with cloudy skies and regular showers, residents across Bengaluru experienced bright sunshine and higher daytime temperatures instead.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures across several parts of Karnataka are currently running 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal. If dry conditions persist, temperatures could climb by another 3-5 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

On Tuesday, Bengaluru recorded its hottest day of the month so far, with the mercury touching 33.6 degrees Celsius. IMD records show the previous highest July temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius was observed on July 1 in 1914 and again in 1926. More recently, the city recorded 32.7 degrees Celsius on July 1, 2021.

Although Wednesday was marginally cooler, temperatures remained significantly above average. The city registered a maximum of 32.2 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees above the normal July maximum of 28.3 degrees Celsius. Observatories at Kempegowda International Airport and HAL Airport both recorded 33.1 degrees Celsius.

The heat was even more intense in north Karnataka. Koppal emerged as the hottest place in the state at 38.8 degrees Celsius, while Bidar recorded 36.6 degrees Celsius. Kalaburagi and Raichur reported maximum temperatures of 36.1 degrees Celsius and 36 degrees Celsius respectively.

IMD Bengaluru Senior Scientist Rajavel Manickam said Karnataka is currently facing a monsoon rainfall deficit of around 30 per cent. He noted that temperatures touching 30-31 degrees Celsius are generally expected during July, making the current spell of heat unusual for this time of the year.

He said there are no major weather systems over the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal at present that could trigger widespread rainfall across Karnataka. While isolated showers driven by local weather conditions cannot be ruled out, significant rain is unlikely over the next few days.

Meteorologists say the lack of cloud cover and reduced monsoon activity are allowing the ground to heat up faster during the day. Longer hours of sunshine and declining soil moisture levels are also contributing to the rise in daytime temperatures, even as night temperatures remain close to normal.

With Karnataka already reporting a 30 per cent monsoon shortfall, weather experts expect the warm conditions to continue until stronger monsoon systems develop over the surrounding seas and revive rainfall activity across the state.