The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very intense rainfall across parts of Karnataka over the next three days, issuing an orange alert for the entire state on Wednesday and a red alert for coastal areas on Thursday. An orange alert has also been issued for the South Interior region, with rainfall expected to continue in coastal and South Interior Karnataka on Friday.
The forecast comes as a low-pressure area develops over the Bay of Bengal and the Southwest Monsoon begins withdrawing from the state. Some parts of Karnataka are expected to receive spells of heavy rainfall during this period, following light to moderate showers over the past couple of days after a prolonged dry spell.
The IMD’s alerts are expected to be relevant for urban areas because intense, short-duration rainfall can affect road movement, drainage systems and public services. The supplied report does not specify city-wise rainfall totals or issue separate operational directions for Bengaluru or other municipal corporations.
Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre data cited by The Indian Express shows that the state has recorded a 67 per cent rainfall deficit in September so far. Against a normal September rainfall of 107 mm, Karnataka has received 35 mm. This is the state’s largest monthly deficit during the current monsoon season, according to the report.
The deficit was 42 per cent in June, when Karnataka received 116 mm against a normal of 199 mm. It narrowed to 29 per cent in July, with 192 mm recorded against a normal of 271 mm, and stood at 23 per cent in August, when the state received 169 mm against a normal of 220 mm.
The weak monsoon has also affected reservoir storage. Water levels at the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir stood at 27.76 thousand million cubic feet on September 21, compared with 47.73 TMC on the same date last year. The difference is significant for a reservoir that supports water management in parts of southern Karnataka, although the report does not provide current supply schedules or municipal-level allocations.
Reservoirs in North Karnataka were reported to be in a relatively better position than those in the south. Almatti, the region’s largest dam, held 115 TMC, compared with its full capacity of 123 TMC last year. The report does not state whether the forecast rainfall will materially change storage levels across the state.
Rainfall is expected to continue in South Interior and coastal Karnataka on Friday, with some areas likely to receive very intense showers. The IMD alerts and the rainfall and reservoir data cited by the state disaster monitoring centre will remain the key indicators for public agencies as the forecast period progresses.
