After a brief lull, monsoon rain is forecast to pick up pace again in the state. Over the next week, several parts of Karnataka are expected to receive heavy rain accompanied by gusts of wind reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Forecasts indicate widespread rain in Bengaluru and surrounding districts of south interior Karnataka as well as coastal and Malnad districts. The intensity of rain in north interior Karnataka will be less compared to that in the southern part of the state.
Bengaluru Urban district will receive moderate showers till the end of July. The IMD has also warned of isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rain over the south interior Karnataka region on July 21 and between July 25 and 27, coupled with strong surface winds.
The IMD, which issued an orange alert for Monday, has sounded a yellow alert for the next three days, after which the intensity of rain is expected to increase further.
According to data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell, the state has received normal rain since the onset of the monsoon in the last week of May. Between June 1 and July 21, the state received 375 mm of rainfall against a normal of 382 mm – a deficit of 2 per cent.
Among the regions of the state, south interior Karnataka – after a bountiful spell of pre-monsoon rain- has received 19 per cent less rain than normal–94 mm against an average of 117 mm. The spell of heavy rain forecast during the week is expected to offset the deficit.
While 18 districts in Karnataka have received normal rain till date, 12 districts – especially in the western part of the state – have received deficit rain during the current monsoon season.