Bengaluru rain: City braces for heavy evening showers, thunderstorms over South India

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across Bengaluru through the evening and night. The spell may cause waterlogging as several southern cities face a wet weekend.

In Short

• Two atmospheric systems are driving unsettled conditions across northern and southern India
• Delhi received rain during Thursday's first half under a Western Disturbance
• Mysuru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram may receive repeated showers

A spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms is expected to affect Bengaluru through the evening and night, with several major cities across southern India likely to see a prolonged wet weekend.

Bengaluru could be in for a rainy evening, with heavy showers and thunderstorms expected to sweep across the city as weather systems drive rainfall over different parts of India.

The forecast points to an active spell of rain across southern India, raising concerns about waterlogging in Bengaluru's urban areas.

The weather pattern is being shaped by two different atmospheric developments. A Western Disturbance is active over northern India, bringing unsettled weather to the region, while deep convective activity associated with the northeast monsoon is developing over southern India.

Delhi experienced rain during the first half of Thursday, while Bengaluru is expected to see heavier showers later in the day and into the night.

Thunderstorms could intensify rainfall over parts of the Karnataka capital, although the timing and intensity of showers may vary across neighbourhoods.

SOUTHERN CITIES FACE A WET WEEKEND

The unsettled weather is not expected to remain confined to Bengaluru. Several major cities across southern India, including Mysuru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, could also experience spells of rain over the coming days.

The developing northeast monsoon is contributing to active rainfall conditions over the southern peninsula. Its seasonal winds, combined with favourable atmospheric conditions, can help generate deep convection — the upward movement of warm, moist air that produces towering clouds, thunderstorms and intense downpours.

The early-season activity could bring substantial rainfall to parts of the peninsula, including areas away from the coast that do not always receive the same attention as coastal rain belts.

Heavy showers can create challenges for Bengaluru, where intense rainfall over short periods can overwhelm drainage systems and cause water to accumulate on roads and low-lying stretches. Commuters may face slower traffic and reduced visibility during thunderstorms.

With rainfall activity building across southern India, the coming weekend could bring repeated spells of showers and thunderstorms to several cities. The extent of the impact will depend on how individual weather systems develop and where the heaviest rain bands form.

- Ends