Yellow Alert In Bengaluru Till May 18; Heavy Rain Expected In Chennai And These Southern Cities

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning for major cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram over the next few days. This comes as isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds are expected over Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the next three to four days.

Meanwhile, residents of Delhi woke up to a hazy morning on Thursday, as a thick layer of dust blanketed the city. Visibility dropped and air quality worsened, with haze covering the skyline.

According to the IMD, the anticipated weather conditions in south Indian cities will be due to an upper air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea and another over the southwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining the Tamil Nadu coast in the lower tropospheric levels.

The entire state of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, is on a yellow alert till Sunday. Bengaluru is likely to witness "partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of moderate rain or thundershowers" till May 18, followed by rain showers over the subsequent two days, the IMD said. During the weekend, north Karnataka will remain on an orange alert, while south Karnataka will continue to be on yellow alert.

Chennai will likely receive light rainfall in some areas on Thursday. Several other districts of Tamil Nadu, such as Krishnagiri and Salem, are on an orange alert, while others are on a yellow alert for the day. The IMD has warned of slippery roads and waterlogging in some areas due to the rainfall.

In Hyderabad, moderate rain or thundershowers are likely over the city and the neighbouring regions on Thursday. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 33 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius, the IMD said. Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Siddipet and others are on a yellow alert in view of the situation.

Scattered to moderate rainfall is expected over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe for the next five days, the IMD warned. Thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30–50 kmph are likely. Telangana may see thunder squalls with wind speeds of 50–60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph from May 14–16. Isolated heavy rain is likely over several regions, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rayalaseema, and Kerala on specific days, the weather agency noted.

In its latest bulletin at 8 a.m. on Thursday the weather forecaster said that the conditions are favourable for further progression of southwest monsoon. In the next 2-3 days monsoon is expected to advance to some parts of the south Arabian Sea, Maldives and Comorin area; some more parts of South Bay of Bengal, entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, remaining parts of Andaman Sea; and some parts of central Bay of Bengal.