Karnataka Rain: Bengaluru Pre-monsoon Showers Till May 2 as IMD Warns of Thunderstorm Chances At 60-80%

Bengaluru is set for a spell of pre-monsoon showers over the coming days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placing 19 districts in Karnataka under a yellow alert till May 2. The warning covers several parts of north and south interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru (Urban and Rural), where evening thunderstorms and gusty winds are likely to become more frequent as the week progresses.

According to the IMD forecast, scattered rainfall has already been recorded in parts of Karnataka, with Kuknoor in Koppal district receiving 4 cm and Gurumitkal in Yadgir recording 3 cm. Light showers have also been reported from coastal and interior regions, indicating the early build-up of pre-monsoon conditions.

The weather shift is being driven by a combination of systems currently active over southern India. An upper air cyclonic circulation over north Telangana, a trough stretching down to the Comorin region, and an anti-cyclonic circulation over Maharashtra and adjoining Karnataka are together creating instability in the atmosphere. This setup is helping trigger thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds, particularly across interior Karnataka .

Districts under immediate impact include Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Davanagere, where hailstorms along with winds of up to 40-50 kmph are likely. At the same time, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chitradurga are expected to receive light to moderate rain with gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. These conditions could lead to brief power cuts, traffic slowdowns and some damage to crops left in the open.

According to IMD, rainfall activity across Karnataka is expected to increase gradually over the next few days. While April 28 may see only scattered showers in coastal and a few interior districts, the spread is likely to widen by April 29, with Bengaluru beginning to receive late afternoon or evening thundershowers. The weather is expected to peak around April 30, when heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara, along with more widespread thunderstorm activity across Bengaluru, Mandya and Tumakuru.

The pre-monsoon showers are likely to continue into May 1, with persistent rain expected across south interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru. By May 2, the intensity may ease slightly, but intermittent showers and gusty winds are still likely in Bengaluru and nearby districts such as Ramanagara, Mandya, Tumakuru and Kolar.

The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph between April 29 and May 1, with chances of hailstorms on April 28 and 29. Heavy rainfall alerts remain in place for April 30 and May 1, marking these as the most active days in the forecast period.

Despite the increase in rain activity, temperatures continue to remain high. Kalaburgi recorded a maximum temperature of 42.6°C, and no significant drop in temperatures is expected over the next few days, resulting in a mix of heat and sudden evening storms typical of the pre-monsoon season.

Bengaluru Weather

In Bengaluru, the weather is expected to follow a similar pre-monsoon pattern, with partly cloudy skies and spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph. The city is expected to see partly cloudy skies on April 28, followed by partly cloudy conditions with light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph from April 29 onwards through May 2. Day Temperatures are likely to remain stable during this period, with maximum temperatures ranging between 35°C and 36°C and minimum temperatures between 22°C and 24°C.

Thunderstorm chances in the city remain relatively high due to the combination of strong surface heating and moderate humidity levels. With temperatures rising through the day and humidity hovering around 50%, conditions are favourable for convective activity. This means thunderstorms are not likely through the day, but are quite likely in the late afternoon and evening, with probabilities ranging between 60-80% and peaking closer to 70-90% between April 29 and May 1. These are expected to be short, intense spells with lightning and gusty winds.

Authorities have advised residents to stay cautious, especially during evening hours when storms are likely to develop quickly. Avoiding open areas during lightning, being careful while travelling in gusty winds and ensuring basic precautions during sudden weather changes can help minimise risks.