Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, experienced its wettest May since 1957. The city recorded 301.1mm of rain during the month, surpassing the previous all-time monthly record of 287.1mm set in May 1957.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bangalore received a total of 343mm of rain from March 1 to May 30 this year. However, this is less compared to the 421mm of rain the city received during the same period last year.
Bengaluru sees wettest May in history
On May 30, Bangalore received 65.2 mm of rain, breaking the previous record set on May 28, 2005, when the city received 61.2 mm of rain.
IMD reported that the previous all-time single-day rainfall record for May was on May 26, 2002, with 95mm of rain. Other notable rainfall records for May include May 10, 1991, with 91 mm, May 25, 1990 with 85.1 mm, May 27, 2017 with 83.4 mm, May 29, 1971 with 82 .5 mm and on May 17, 2015 with 66.4 mm of rain.
All-time single-day rainfall record for May
| Date | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2002 | 95.0 |
| May 10, 1991 | 91.0 |
| May 25, 1990 | 85.1 |
| May 27, 2017 | 83.4 |
| May 29, 1971 | 82.5 |
| May 17, 2015 | 66.4 |
The IMD forecast for Bangalore predicts mostly cloudy skies with one or two periods of rain or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 32 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.
After afternoon showers on Tuesday, several areas of the city, including the outer ring road, experienced traffic congestion due to waterlogging.
According to Bengaluru Weather, a group of independent weather enthusiasts, the average rainfall for the month of May in the city was 128.7mm. The IMD observatory in Bangalore recorded the wettest month of May on record, with 301.3mm of rainfall for the month. This surpasses the previous record of 287.1mm set in May 1957.
Bangalore experienced more stormy days in May
A Prasad, the head of the IMD weather center, provided an explanation for the record rainfall. He mentioned that the moisture retention in the wind was exceptionally high during this period. The presence of a discontinuity or trough of wind at 900 meters above mean sea level in Karnataka resulted in the convergence of the wind and facilitated convective activity. As a result, Bangalore experienced more stormy days with heavy rain in May.
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