Following a warm February, Bengaluru residents are experiencing hotter-than-usual temperatures in March, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributing it partly to the persistent El Nino phenomenon. This marks the second instance in five years where the city has faced such high temperatures in early March.
A Prasad, a scientist at IMD Bengaluru, explains, “El Nino is currently in the moderate stage. While it began as severe at the end of last year, we anticipate its continuation into the summer season before subsiding. This, coupled with clear skies and calm winds, has led to temperatures being 2 to 3 degrees above normal, including minimum temperatures.”
Temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius in the first week of March, an occurrence usually observed later in the month. Prasad notes, “While it’s not unprecedented for March to witness such temperatures, it typically occurs in the third or fourth week. This is the second instance in the last five years where temperatures have touched 36 degrees within the first ten days of the month.”
Despite the heat, residents can look forward to potential relief in the form of summer showers. “Bengaluru typically receives 14.7 mm of rainfall in March, with the state averaging 10.5 mm. There’s a chance of precipitation in the third or fourth week of the month, which could help lower temperatures,” Prasad adds.
February also witnessed elevated temperatures in its initial days, with a peak of around 34 degrees Celsius and average temperatures exceeding normal levels by 1.2 degrees.
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