Bengaluru records 100 pc rainfall deficit for April after 41 years, temperatures soar across state

BENGALURU, RAICHUR: For the first time in the last 41 years, Bengaluru has not received any rain in the month of April. The last time the city did not receive any rain in the month of April was in 1983. About 10 days ago, some parts of the city had experience a brief spell of rain lasting a few minutes.

Also, the city is expected to experience more heat, with the maximum temperature touching 38 degrees Celsius over the next 3-4 days. The night temperature will also increase, the weather department has cautioned.

According to the weather office, the city recorded 100 per cent rain deficit in April this year as seen in 1983. In all the intervening years, the city has experienced rain in the month of April.

Apart from Bengaluru, at least 12 other districts including Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara, have registered deficit rainfall in April.

In other parts of the state, Raichur recorded maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday after a gap of 15 years. It is likely to hover around 43-45 degrees Celsius in the next 3-4 days. Kalaburagi recorded 44 degrees Celsius on Tuesday while Koppal registered 43 degrees Celsius. Heat wave warning has been given for Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Gadag, Dharwad, Ballari, Vijayanagar, Davanagere, Tumakuru and Chitradurga districts.

The state is also witnessing intense heat after eight years along with deficit rainfall. The highest maximum temperature recorded in April 2019 was 36.51 degrees Celsius while in April this year, it was 36.64 degrees Celsius.

While the maximum temperature crossed 37 degrees Celsius for 11 days in April 2019, it was 17 days this April. On two days in April 2019, the maximum temperature recorded was 38 degrees Celsius while it was three days this year. Dry weather has prevailed in the state since November last year.