Bengaluru and Karnataka Brace for Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms, and Hailstorms

Bangalore rain update: Karnataka, including Bengaluru, faces a heavy spell of rain with hailstorms predicted. A yellow alert is issued for Bengaluru, warning of thunderstorms and gusty winds until Thursday. Heavy downpours have already caused waterlogging and traffic chaos. Several districts are under alert for intense weather, with monsoon expected by early June.

Karnataka, including Bengaluru, is bracing for a heavy spell of rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting isolated hailstorms. The IMD has sounded a yellow alert for Bengaluru and has warned of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds till Thursday. The city received heavy rain on Monday evening, throwing traffic out of gear and catching peak-hour commuters off guard.

According to the weather agency, Bengaluru is likely to get light to moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds on Tuesday as well. Rainfall activity is expected to reduce from Wednesday, with only a few areas likely to receive light rain, and the monsoon is expected to set in during the first week of June.

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Yellow alert in several Karnataka districts

Weather conditions may turn more intense on May 20 in Karnataka, as the IMD has warned of heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain cautious during periods of severe weather. A yellow alert is in place across Karnataka, including Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Mandya and Mysuru and thunderstorms and scattered rain may develop during the afternoon, evening and night hours.

Several districts across North Interior Karnataka, including Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Ballari, are expected to receive thunderstorms and rainfall over the next few days, according to weather forecasts.

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Evening thunderstorms accompanied by showers have also been predicted in parts of southern interior Karnataka, including Davangere, Vijayanagar, Chitradurga, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagar, as unstable weather conditions continue across the state.

Heavy rainfall leads to waterlogging

Though heavy rainfall provided some relief from the heat, it quickly turned into a civic nightmare as key roads, underpasses, and junctions were flooded. The sudden downpour, which lasted between 45 minutes and an hour in several areas, triggered flash floods, waterlogging and multiple tree-falling incidents.

Bengaluru witnessed severe waterlogging in several parts of the city after heavy rain lashed the region, with the worst-hit stretches reported from Majestic, Shivajinagar, KR Market, Rajajinagar and Vasanth Nagar. Vehicles crawled through flooded roads as overflowing drains and waterlogged junctions triggered massive traffic congestion across key areas.

Several underpasses and internal roads were submerged, forcing commuters and motorists to take alternative routes. Meanwhile, parts of north Karnataka, including Hubballi and Dharwad, also received heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Residents in these cities reported brief flooding on low-lying roads following intense downpours.

Amid the worsening weather conditions, major airline IndiGo said flight schedules to and from Bengaluru were impacted due to bad weather. “Bad weather over Bengaluru has impacted flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly,” the airline said in a statement.