The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather warning for Karnataka, predicting light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong surface winds in isolated areas on Sunday. The alert covers Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka, and South Interior Karnataka.
Coastal Karnataka is expected to see heavy rainfall along with squally weather, while the northern and southern interior regions will likely experience thunderstorms with gusty winds. No heavy rain warning has been issued for those areas.
Seven-day forecast signals prolonged wet conditions
The IMD’s seven-day outlook indicates that major weather warnings will remain in effect across all three meteorological subdivisions of Karnataka from August 10 to August 15. While scattered rainfall is expected in some areas, widespread severe weather is not anticipated during this period.
Rainfall patterns in the state have already shifted. Over the past 24 hours, several districts recorded heavy to very heavy downpours. Balanja in Dakshina Kannada district saw the highest rainfall at 139.5 mm, followed by Mala in Udupi district with 115.5 mm and Agumbe in Shivamogga district with 115 mm.
Other areas with significant rainfall included Hanagal Tillavalli in Haveri (103.5 mm), Kudururu in Shivamogga (99.5 mm), and Kokkada in Dakshina Kannada (95 mm). Begar in Chikkamagaluru, Shirady in Dakshina Kannada, and Shankarshanbhog in Shivamogga also reported rainfall exceeding 80 mm.
Related: Milky Mist IPO set for strong debut
The impact isn’t limited to those districts. Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, and Kolar also recorded moderate to heavy rainfall, with several locations registering between 50 mm and 77 mm. Stations like Madikeri, Hosanagara, Sringeri, and Kalasa were among those affected.
Local authorities monitor flooding risks
With soil saturation levels rising after recent downpours, even moderate rainfall could lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas. The IMD’s warning suggests that conditions may persist for nearly a week, increasing the risk of waterlogging in urban centers and landslides in hilly regions.
This isn’t unusual for Karnataka during the monsoon season, but the timing—coming after a period of intense rainfall—could test drainage systems in cities like Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to stay updated on weather bulletins and avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorm alerts.
The state’s disaster management teams are on standby, though no major evacuations have been ordered yet. If current patterns hold, the focus will likely shift from immediate relief to long-term water management, particularly in districts where reservoirs are already nearing capacity.
For now, the IMD continues to track the system, with updates expected as the week progresses.
