Bengaluru: A sudden spell of heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms brought much-needed relief from heat in Bengaluru, cooling the city by nearly 10°C. However, the intense downpour, which lasted less than an hour, caught both citizens and authorities off guard.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded an average of around 80 mm rainfall, along with gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 75 kmph.
Intense rain and hailstorm hit city
The sudden weather shift led to heavy rainfall across several parts of Bengaluru, with thunder showers and hailstorms reported in multiple localities. Citizens were seen scrambling for shelter as the unexpected hailstorm lashed the city during peak hours.
Data from observatories showed variation in rainfall across locations. The HAL Airport observatory recorded 24.7 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm, while Kempegowda International Airport reported only trace rainfall.
Despite the uneven distribution, central parts of the city experienced intense rainfall and strong winds, contributing to the overall impact.
Temperature drops sharply
The downpour brought immediate respite from soaring summer temperatures, with mercury levels dropping by approximately 10 degrees Celsius within a short span.
Residents welcomed the cooling effect, especially after days of heat, although the suddenness of the storm led to inconvenience and disruptions.
IMD upgrades alert to orange
Earlier in the day, the IMD had issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru and surrounding regions. However, as weather conditions intensified, the alert was upgraded to orange, indicating the likelihood of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and strong winds.
The alert covered Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, along with neighbouring areas such as Chikkaballapura and Kolar.
Third major hailstorm in recent weeks
According to IMD Bengaluru’s director in-charge, N Puviarasan, this was the third hailstorm recorded in the city in recent weeks.
Similar weather events were observed earlier in the second week of March and the first week of April, indicating a pattern of unusual pre-monsoon activity in the region.
He advised residents to remain cautious, noting that such weather conditions are likely to persist for the next two days in Bengaluru and nearby districts, including Tumakuru, Hassan, and Chikkaballapura.
Forecast remains uncertain
Officials from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said predicting the exact locations of intense rainfall and hailstorms remains challenging.
While the forecast had initially predicted moderate rainfall with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, the actual wind velocity in central Bengaluru was nearly double, reaching up to 75 kmph.
This discrepancy caught authorities off guard and highlighted the unpredictable nature of such weather events.
What lies ahead
Meteorological officials have warned that thunder showers and hailstorms may continue over the next 48 hours in parts of south interior Karnataka.
After this period, temperatures are expected to rise slightly by 1–2 degrees Celsius, indicating a temporary cooling phase before conditions stabilise.
Conclusion
While the sudden rainfall brought relief from the summer heat, it also exposed the challenges of dealing with unpredictable weather patterns. With more rain forecast in the coming days, residents and authorities will need to stay prepared for sudden changes. The episode serves as a reminder of the increasing variability in pre-monsoon weather conditions in Bengaluru.