The city has a reason to smile during this monsoon, as the amount of rain till date is almost twice the average rainfall received during June.
The city has received an average of 171.33 mm of rainfall till date this month, according to data released by the India Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru.
This is almost double the average rainfall of 89.1 mm that the city receives during June.
With predictions of more thundershowers over the next four days, this June might be on its way to becoming the city’s wettest month, according to the data available since 1901.
The wettest month, as per the data, was June, 1996, when the city received 228 mm.
“The heavy rain in the city can be attributed to the east-west wind zone over the city. This has resulted in heavy rain in south interior Karnataka, including the city. The monsoon was initially weak in the coastal region leading to heavy rain in the rain shadow region, including Bengaluru,” explained S.M. Metri, director, Indian Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru.
“The IMD had predicted above average rainfall (113 per cent) for the peninsular region. We are definitely going to see heavy, above normal, rain this season,” he added.
However, rainfall hasn’t been uniform within the city too, IMD data reveals. While east Bengaluru received the highest rainfall (239 mm at HAL station), the core city recorded slightly lower (174 mm) and the Yelahanka – Kempegowda International Airport witnessed the least (101 mm) rainfall.
However, even the least rainfall recorded in the airport region has crossed the monthly average rainfall this year. Suffering from the El Nino effect, rainfall last June had not even touched the average mean rainfall with the city receiving only 85.3 mm.
This month | |
Bengaluru HAL | 239 mm |
Bengaluru City | 174 mm |
Kempegowda International Airport | 101 mm |
Average | 171.33 mm |
Across history
Average rainfall | 89.1 mm |
1996 | 228 mm |
1991 | 209.4 mm |
1983 | 218.4 mm |
1979 | 197.5 mm |
1935 | 170.9 mm |
Headline: June and the rain
