Bengaluru Weather Takes a Chilly Turn Ahead of Makar Sankranti
Bengaluru residents should keep their umbrellas handy this week. The India Meteorological Department predicts light rain for the city on Tuesday and Wednesday. This comes as maximum temperatures have dropped significantly, making the weather feel much colder.
Temperature Trends Show Noticeable Changes
The maximum temperature in Bengaluru fell five degrees below normal on Sunday. It reached only 24.5 degrees Celsius. Monday saw a slightly higher maximum of 25.1 degrees Celsius, but this still remained 3.3 degrees below the usual mark.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures have stayed above normal. They hovered around 18 degrees Celsius over the last two days, which is two degrees higher than typical readings. Yelahanka recorded the lowest temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius on Monday.
IMD Issues Detailed Forecast for the Coming Days
The meteorological department expects partly cloudy skies through Wednesday. Fog or mist may appear during early morning hours in some areas. Maximum temperatures will likely stay around 26 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures should remain near 17 degrees Celsius.
Light rain occurred on Monday, and similar conditions are predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. This rainfall will probably keep minimum temperatures above their normal levels.
Historical Context for Bengaluru's Winter Weather
Bengaluru typically experiences its coldest winter days during the first two weeks of January. Historical data reveals interesting patterns:
- In seven of the last fifteen years, the city recorded its lowest January minimum temperatures between 12 and 13 degrees Celsius.
- These lowest temperatures usually occur during the first or second week of the month.
- The all-time record low for Bengaluru stands at 7.8 degrees Celsius, recorded way back on January 13, 1884.
- More recently, January 2012 saw temperatures drop to 12 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest point in the past fifteen years.
Current Weather Patterns and Seasonal Transitions
The second week of January this year brought below-normal minimum temperatures to Bengaluru. This followed a spell of above-normal weather during the first week. On January 7, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 14.9 degrees Celsius. This reading was 1.1 degrees below the normal January minimum of 16 degrees Celsius.
Different areas experienced varying conditions:
- The HAL airport region saw a minimum temperature of 14.4 degrees Celsius, which was 0.7 degrees below normal.
- Yelahanka, near Bengaluru airport, recorded the week's lowest temperature of 12.7 degrees Celsius on January 7.
- Minimum temperatures last weekend settled around 12.5 degrees Celsius.
Makar Sankranti, celebrated in mid-January, traditionally signals the end of winter in Bengaluru. Warmer weather usually returns after this festival, leading into the summer season. The current cold spell and predicted rain come just before this seasonal transition.
Experts attribute the significant dip in maximum temperatures to a cold wave affecting North India. Overcast conditions in Bengaluru have contributed to keeping minimum temperatures elevated despite the cooler daytime readings.
