Bengaluru Breaks 112-Year July Heat Record Amid Weak Southwest Monsoon

Bengaluru, long known for its pleasant weather, recorded its hottest July day in 112 years on Tuesday after the maximum temperature climbed to 33.6°C, breaking a record that had stood for more than a century.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city's previous highest July maximum of 33.3°C was recorded in 1914 and matched again in 1926. Tuesday's reading edged past that mark, setting a new July record for the city.

The spike is even more striking considering Bengaluru's normal maximum temperature for July is around 28.3°C. That means the city was more than 5°C warmer than usual, an unusually large departure for a month typically associated with monsoon showers.

Weak Monsoon Behind the Temperature Spike

Meteorologists attributed the unusual heat to a weakening southwest monsoon, which has significantly reduced rainfall across Karnataka. With fewer rain-bearing clouds and longer hours of sunshine, daytime temperatures have risen well above seasonal averages.

The impact wasn't limited to Bengaluru.

Heat Grips Karnataka

Several districts across Karnataka also experienced unusually high temperatures, with maximum temperatures ranging 3°C to 4°C above normal.

Raichur emerged as the hottest place in the state, recording 38.4°C, compared with its normal maximum of 33.1°C-a departure of 5.3°C.

Other districts and locations, including Gadag, Koppal, HAL Airport, Kempegowda International Airport and Mysuru, also reported significantly above-normal temperatures. Mysuru, for instance, recorded a maximum nearly 4°C higher than its seasonal average.

Dry Conditions Likely to Continue

The IMD expects dry weather to persist over most districts of North Interior Karnataka as the southwest monsoon remains weak. Unless rainfall activity picks up, temperatures are likely to stay above normal in several parts of the state over the next few days.

For a city celebrated for its mild climate, Tuesday's record-breaking heat serves as a reminder that even Bengaluru is not immune to increasingly erratic weather patterns.