Karnataka Orange Alert Issued: IMD Predicts Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain In Bengaluru And Other Dists Till May 18

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a orange and yellow Alert across various regions of Karnataka, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, squalls, and heavy rainfall from May 15 to May 18.

On May 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Karnataka districts, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds. While yellow alert has been issued to Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshin Kannada.

On Monday, several parts of the city were hit by intense rain and hailstorms, with areas like Kalyan Nagar witnessing hail. The downpour led to severe traffic congestion, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and slow-moving vehicles. Many roads were partially blocked due to the flooding.

The alert covers Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka, and South Interior Karnataka, where the weather conditions are expected to remain unstable with potential for localized disruptions. The IMD has clarified that while the alerts do not indicate extreme weather, the public should remain cautious, especially in vulnerable areas. From May 19 onwards, weather across all regions is expected to stabilize, and no warnings have been issued for the period from May 19 to May 21.

Meanwhile, Magadi in the Ramanagara district recorded the highest rainfall in the state with 105 mm reported until 6:00 AM this morning. The town, located approximately 38 kilometers from Ullal NICE Road junction in Bengaluru, was pounded by a thunderstorm that originated in northwest Bengaluru and slipped southwest, intensifying over Magadi during the evening hours.

Weather blogger Vijay, who runs the X handle "Namma Karnataka Weather," provided an early Thursday weather outlook for Bengaluru. According to him, thunderstorm activity started late on Wednesday, with light rainfall reported from East, Southeast, and Northwest Bengaluru. For Thursday, Vijay noted that atmospheric parameters are conducive for thunderstorm development, with dense mid-level humidity, moderate CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy), prevailing wind convergence, and decent alignment of the sounding chart.

These factors suggest a fair chance of scattered light to moderate thunderstorm rains in Bengaluru and surrounding areas by evening and night, ranging between 5 mm and 50 mm. However, he also expressed mild concern over the slow build-up of CAPE due to lower daytime temperatures over the past two days-recording maximums of 32°C and 31.2°C respectively-delaying ideal conditions for thunderstorm formation.

With pre-monsoon activity intensifying, authorities have urged the public to follow safety advisories, stay indoors during severe weather, and keep track of official updates. Emergency services are on standby, and the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) is monitoring the situation closely.