The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rise in temperature `unusual' for Bangalore

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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rise in temperature `unusual' for Bangalore

Staff Reporter

`Rain in the next 48 hours is extremely unlikely' Tourists visiting Bangalore to get away from the torrid heat in cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad are now forced to endure the same unfavourable weather conditions here as well

BANGALORE: The rise in temperature this summer has been the concern of many. "Unusually", as the Meteorological Department puts it, the city is witnessing hot and sweltering weather this summer.

Tourists visiting Bangalore to get away from the torrid heat in cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad are now forced to endure the same unfavourable weather conditions here as well, though minus the humidity.

The average temperature in the city is 36.5 degree Celsius, which is nearly 3.5 degrees above the figures usually recorded in Bangalore at this time of the year.

Bangalore is situated at the centre of a tableland, 3,000 feet above mean sea level and is endowed with salubrious climate. Some four decades ago Bangalore was naturally air-conditioned. Anand Koppar, Director of the Meteorological Department, told The Hindu that the circulation pattern of the wind is the main factor that determines the weather.

The northwest winds blowing in this region for the past few weeks are responsible for the hot and dry atmosphere in the city. These winds clear the sky thus nullifying cloud formation, which would have otherwise given us a few spells of rain. However, it is unlikely that the city would have to face such heat throughout this month.

The temperature might hit hard agricultural activities, he added. Not confined to Bangalore alone, the same is the condition elsewhere too, Dr. Koppar said.

"There has been no showers in the State since May 5 except in a few isolated areas such as Chikmagalur where sporadic rainfall of one to two centimetres has been recorded."

Can Bangaloreans expect a respite from the heat in the next few days? "Rain in the next 48 hours is extremely unlikely," Dr. Koppar said.

The weather might change if the winds turn easterly or southerly.

These moisture-laden winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal can bring rain and also relief to the people.

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