12°C ahead: Bengaluru braces for coldest December week in 9 years

BENGALURU: The city is gearing up for an intense winter phase as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a sharp decline in night temperatures over the coming week. The minimum temperature is expected to drop to 12 degrees Celsius, potentially marking the coldest Dec reading since 2016. The chill will be accompanied by misty mornings, dry winds, and clear skies — conditions that together intensify winter in southern India.

Over the past week, Bengaluru's minimum temperature has hovered around 16°C, already giving residents a taste of the season. But IMD officials say the mercury is likely to fluctuate between 12°C and 14°C through the coming week — well below the long-term Dec average of 16.4°C, signalling a stronger-than-usual winter. If the forecast holds, Bengaluru may record its lowest Dec minimum in nine years, matching the 12°C logged on Dec 11, 2016.

In the early hours of Thursday, some wards in the city recorded a low of 13.2°C; the likes of Banaswadi, Thanisandra, and Chowdeshwari also experienced similarly low readings.

IMD Bengaluru official CS Patil said, "The drop in temperature can be attributed to a combination of dry air, clear skies, and stable atmospheric conditions, all of which facilitate radiational cooling at night. The strengthening of northeasterly winds, a typical winter phenomenon, is also a key factor. These winds carry cold, dry air from high-pressure zones over northern and central India towards the south, displacing warmer air masses and contributing to sharper declines in temperature, early-morning fog, and an enhanced wind-chill effect."

The chill is not confined to Bengaluru. Several districts across North and Kalyana Karnataka — including Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkot, Belagavi, and Dharwad — are expected to experience a drop in temperatures on Friday. Coastal regions and interior districts will continue to experience predominantly dry weather, though without the same level of temperature plunge.

Patil said morning walkers and early commuters in Bengaluru can expect foggy stretches and brisk winds. He urged residents, especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments, to take precautions. "Layering clothing, avoiding early-morning exposure, and ensuring adequate home insulation are among the suggested safety measures," he told TOI.

For many residents, the unusually intense and refreshing winter spell may evoke memories of the city's older, colder winters.



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