Unexpected Winter Chill Grips Bengaluru
Residents of Bengaluru woke up to an unusual Saturday morning as an unexpected cold wave enveloped the city, persisting well into the afternoon hours. The sudden temperature plunge marked the coldest day Bengaluru has witnessed this November, catching citizens off guard and sending them scrambling for winter jackets and warm beverages even during daytime.
Record-Breaking Temperature Drop
Unlike the typical November daytime maximum temperature range of 23-24 degrees Celsius, the city recorded a significantly lower 21.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Meteorologists have described this substantial dip as uncommon for this time of year, with senior scientists at India Meteorological Department confirming this is the lowest temperature the city has experienced so far this year.
CS Patil, scientist at IMD Bengaluru, explained the phenomenon: "The drop in temperature is largely influenced by cloudy weather and increased moisture in the air, along with the breeze triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. While it is common for mercury levels to drop by 1 or 2 degrees, this time it plummeted by 3 to 4, and the result is being felt everywhere."
Weather Forecast Goes Awry
What surprised both residents and weather experts was the sharp temperature decline despite limited rainfall over the past few days. The IMD had issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru and neighboring districts on Thursday, predicting a modest temperature drop of 1-2 degrees Celsius with maximum temperatures expected to remain at 23-24 degrees Celsius.
Instead, while the city received barely any rain, temperatures dipped far beyond expectations, undermining even IMD's forecast by nearly 4 degrees. The temperature data shows a dramatic overnight drop from 25.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday to 21.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Despite it being a weekend, many Bengalureans chose to stay indoors or ventured out only with proper winter protection. The nippy weather conditions are expected to persist until Monday morning, after which temperatures are predicted to gradually rise with the return of bright sunny days.
