Bengaluru, Jan 13 (DHNS): The City is in the grip of a cold wave condition, with Bengalureans experiencing dry chill weather and teeth-chattering winds since Saturday.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, this will continue on Tuesday also.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, IMD Bengaluru Director B Puttanna said: “This is for the first time that the City is witnessing a cold wave condition in January. Normally, it happens in December. Such an occurrence in January is a rare phenomenon and this has not happened in the last 8-10 years. The cold and dry weather is because of clear sky and absence of moisture in the air.”
Cold wave conditions prevail when the temperatures are less than 10 degrees Celsius or is 7°C to 10°C below the normal temperature for more than 48 hours. The lowest minimum temperature that Bengaluru recorded this season was 12.7°C on Sunday (January 11). This is the lowest minimum of this winter season in January. Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday recorded 9.5°C.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in Bengaluru on Monday were 26.7°C and 14°C respectively.
Puttanna said the lowest minimum temperature ever in January in Bengaluru was recorded in 1984 at 7.8°C. Since the last decade, minimum temperatures have not dipped below 12°C in the City. This is because of increasing urbanisation, population and pollution levels.
The temperature had just touched 12°C in 2012, but did not go below that.
Bengaluru and most parts of south interior Karnataka have been experiencing this since the last three days (from January 10).
This is because of the anti-cyclonic circulation winds prevailing in Gujarat coupled with northerly winds. The cold wave condition will continue for the next 24 hours. This is because easterly winds have started to prevail now and under this influence, the minimum temperatures will gradually tend to increase.
On the other hand, Chamarajanagar recorded 8.8°C on Sunday, while Chitradurga, Belagavi, Dharwad and Vijapura recorded 8.7, 7.6, 8.9 and 6.7°C respectively.