Maximum temperature dropped by about eight degrees Celsius in Mangalore which received rains for most part of the day, thanks to a low pressure area developed in the Arabian Sea. Monsoon-like conditions prevailed during the day, forcing people to take out umbrellas and raincoats.
People may have to carry umbrellas and raincoats on Friday too as the weatherman expects the coast to receive some rain today too, though on a subdued level.
B. Puttanna, Director-in-charge, Meteorological Centre, Bangalore told The Hindu that the low pressure area in the Arabian Sea had created upper air circulation up to a height of 5.8 km above sea level which was causing rains in Mangalore and most parts of coastal Karnataka. The weather system was feeding moisture from the Arabian Sea, he said.
Udupi, which had not received any pre-monsoon rains is well compensated, he said. The highest rainfall was in Gokarna (13 cm), Mr. Puttanna said.
Though the low pressure was formed about three days ago, it had taken time to move to the coast. Moving in north or north-easterly direction, it was over Mysore on Wednesday and was close to the coast on Thursday. In Mangalore, rainfall was greater in the first three hours – between 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. when the port city recorded 24 mm of rainfall at Bajpe. By 2.30 p.m. it stood at 27 mm. The highest temperature was 25.4 degrees Celsius by 2.30 p.m. – down from 33.3 degrees Celsius the previous day.
Mr. Puttanna said the impact of the low pressure area would gradually decline and temperatures would rise to previous levels in about two days. There would be a slight decline in rainfall on Friday, he said.
The month of May was famous for formation of low pressure areas and cyclones in the sea, Mr. Puttanna said. However, if such a system developed in the Bay of Bengal it would increase the temperature here rather than bringing rains as it would move north, he added.
