Bengaluru: For the past few days, Bengaluru had been heating up under disappearing rain clouds and a faltering southwest monsoon. On Tuesday, the heat crossed a historic threshold, touching 33.6 degrees Celsius, beating a 112-year-old climate record and making it the city’s hottest July day since 1914.Contrary to the usual rise of 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal temperatures during the month, Bengaluru Tuesday clocked 5.3 degrees Celsius above normal. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, the previous July record was 33.3 degrees, registered on July 1, 1914.In fact, eastern parts of Bengaluru, beyond HAL Airport, witnessed an even hotter day, with the maximum temperature touching 34 degrees Celsius.Behind the city’s record-breaking heat, IMD scientists say, is a potent combination of prolonged dry weather and the build-up of El Niño conditions, which have thrown the southwest monsoon off balance.“Prolonged dry weather conditions are more common during El Niño rather than during wet periods,” explained CS Patil, scientist at IMD Bengaluru. Besides, the absence of favourable global and regional climate drivers that could revive monsoon and bring rain to the peninsular region has further worsened the situation.“Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which plays a significant role in influencing the strength of southwest monsoon, remains neutral, with sea surface temperatures hovering near average levels. As a result, the condition has provided no additional boost to the subdued monsoon,” Patil clarified.Adding to these conditions, Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a powerful atmospheric phenomenon that influences the progress and intensity of rainfall over India, is also unfavourably positioned farther east over Pacific Ocean, where it has been actively suppressing monsoon conditions across India.Patil said the only hope lies in localised primary climate drivers such as the formation of a low-pressure system over Bay of Bengal.
