The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert on May 20 for 10 Karnataka districts warning of heavy to very heavy rain, thunder, and gusty winds. The districts covered under this warning are Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, and Kodagu. The IMD said that the areas can expect localized flooding, traffic congestion, and possible damage to infrastructure from the severity of weather.
The remaining part of the state, such as Bengaluru, has been put on a yellow alert, cautioning citizens to remain vigilant since moderate rains and sporadic thunderstorms are predicted in the coming couple of days.
Red Alert Issued for May 21
The scenario is likely to aggravate even more on May 21, with the IMD issuing a red alert — cautioning of extremely heavy rain (over 204.5 mm in 24 hours) — for six coastal and Malnad districts. They are Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Dakshina Kannada.
The red alert assumes a high threat of heavy flooding, destruction of public property, and possible evacuation from low-lying regions. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for Hassan, Haveri, Kodagu, and Dharwad, while the rest of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, will continue under a yellow alert.
Monsoon Advances, Cyclonic System Brewing
This spike in rainfall is linked to the advancing southwest monsoon, which, as of May 19, has spread across large parts of the south Arabian Sea, the Maldives–Comorin region, and into the Bay of Bengal. The monsoon’s northern limit now stretches from 5°N/60°E to 21°N/95°E, and meteorologists predict it will continue to move forward over the next few days.
Citing further changing weather patterns, the IMD has warned of an upper air cyclonic circulation forming over the east-central Arabian Sea off the coast of Karnataka on May 21. This system could organize into a low-pressure system by May 22, further intensifying as it moves northwards.
Bengaluru Weather Forecast: Cloudy with Gusty Winds
For Bengaluru, the weather prediction from May 21 to 23 is generally cloudy weather, moderate rain, and random thunderstorms. There can be wind gusts of 40–50 kmph on May 21, and 30–40 kmph in the next two days, leading to short-duration power cuts or treefalls.
Stay Alert, Stay Safe
As many districts have potentially risky weather, citizens are requested to:
Avoid going out unnecessarily
Tie loose objects outdoors
Have emergency supplies within reach
Watch official weather reports and warnings
Disaster relief teams and emergency services will probably be on high alert in the days to come as Karnataka weathers this critical pre-monsoon period.
