Bengaluru records sharply below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall

Bengaluru recorded substantially below-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season, according to data from the India Meteorological Department. The city station received 313 mm between June 1 and September 30, compared with a normal of 597.7 mm. The station’s rainfall departure was reported at minus 236 mm.

A weather account on X described the season as the city’s driest in 20 years, citing an earlier low of 298.3 mm recorded in 2006. The supplied report attributes that comparison to the post and does not present a separate IMD statement confirming the ranking. Rainfall varied across the city’s monitoring stations.

The HAL station received 434 mm, with a deficit of 29 mm, while Kempegowda International Airport recorded 391 mm. A deficit figure was not available for the airport station. Across Karnataka, seasonal rainfall totalled 564.6 mm against a normal 831.8 mm, a shortfall of 32 per cent.

Bengaluru Urban district received 258.7 mm compared with its normal 452.4 mm, representing a 43 per cent deficit. The largest district deficit was recorded in Bengaluru South, formerly Ramanagara, at 87 per cent. Kalaburagi recorded a 55 per cent deficit and Hassan 53 per cent, according to the seasonal data.

All three meteorological subdivisions also received less rain than normal. Coastal Karnataka recorded 2,228.3 mm against 3,093.9 mm, North Interior Karnataka received 329.8 mm against 480.8 mm, and South Interior Karnataka recorded 433.7 mm against 678.4 mm. IMD scientist C.S.

Patil attributed the deficit to strong El Nino conditions, which delayed the southwest monsoon’s onset in Karnataka. The data was reported even as Bengaluru experienced heavy rain in the days before the season ended.