Early winter? Bengaluru temperature drops to 16.3° Celsius
After an unusually warm start to November, night temperatures are falling across the state; clear skies and northerly winds are likely to sustain the chill for another 4-5 days, says IMD
Karnataka is slowly experiencing winter conditions, with Bengaluru and several other parts of the state witnessing a sharp decline in night-time temperatures over the past few days.
Bengaluru woke up to a chilly Friday morning on November 13, with the minimum temperature dropping to 16.3 degrees Celsius. The decline comes after an unusually warm start to November, when the city's minimum temperature touched 22 degrees Celsius on November 4.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several weather stations across Karnataka have recorded minimum temperatures significantly below normal for this time of the year. The temperatures are set to dip further in the coming days.
CS Patil, a scientist at IMD, Bengaluru, told The Times of India that the recent fluctuations in temperature were partly linked to cyclonic activity, which drew moisture away from the region. While minimum temperatures subsequently returned to normal levels of 19–21 degrees Celsius, they have now fallen by 3-4 degrees.
Clear skies to sustain cold conditions
Explaining the current weather pattern, Patil attributed the drop in temperatures to clear skies, dry weather, and northerly to north-easterly winds, which are facilitating radiational cooling.
He said these conditions are likely to persist for another four to five days in the absence of cloud cover. However, the development of clouds could bring warmer nights.
Also Read: Parts of Karnataka to be in grip of cold wave for next 3 days: IMD
The HAL Airport meteorological station also recorded a significant decline, with the minimum temperature falling from 18.9 degrees Celsius on November 9 to 16 degrees on November 13.
Shivamogga, Belagavi among coldest
The winter chill has extended beyond Bengaluru, with Shivamogga recording a minimum temperature of 12.4 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal. Belagavi Airport also registered 12.4 degrees Celsius.
Also Read: Is 40+ degrees the new early-summer normal in South India as extreme weather intensifies?
In coastal Karnataka, Honavar recorded 17.4 degrees Celsius, 5.2 degrees below normal. Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport reported 15.2 degrees Celsius, around three degrees below normal, while Mysuru recorded 17.6 degrees Celsius.