BENGALURU, 11 MAY

After experiencing record-breaking high temperatures in April, Bengaluru residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief as May brought cooler weather and much-needed rain. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert (rainfall ranging between 64.5mm and 115mm) for the City until 14 May.

Meanwhile, heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed the City on Friday night inundating low-lying areas, uprooting electric poles and trees and damaging vehicles. A tree uprooted and fell onto an electric transformer near Mahatma Gandhi Park in Nagarbhavi.

In Deepanjali Nagar, three electric poles were uprooted. Two cars and one tempo traveller parked outside were crushed by a huge tree. A petrol bunk has been flooded due to heavy rains in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The compound wall of Traffic and Transit Management Centre in Kengeri collapsed and the parking area was inundated. Many residents in Annapoorneshwari Nagar were forced to spend sleepless nights as their houses were inundated due to heavy rain.

The major roads in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnanabharathi, Airport Road and Magadi Road stretch were inundated, and late-night vehicle commuters had to struggle to reach their homes. The City received rainfall ranging between 28mm and 89mm on Friday, according to authorities. Bengaluru can expect similar weather conditions, including rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds, over the next five days.

The recent downpours are a welcome change from the City's prolonged dry spell. In April, Bengaluru received almost no rain, much lower than the average of 61.7mm for the month. The lack of rain caused severe water shortages, with even groundwater resources drying up. This lack of rainfall was caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon causing high surface temperatures in Pacific Ocean.

However, IMD predicts Bengaluru to receive its fair share of an average rainfall of 128.7mm in May. The IMD's weekly forecast predicts maximum and minimum temperatures to hover around 35 and 23 degrees Celsius, respectively, in the City. There is a possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and squalls across different regions of Karnataka. Heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is predicted for South Interior Karnataka on 12 May. Both north and south interior regions can expect similar weather on 13 and 14 May. -Salar News