Several parts of Bengaluru witnessed a hailstorm on Friday afternoon including parts of the Central Business District of MG Road, Cubbon Park and surrounding areas. There was widespread rainfall across the city with Gantiganahalli in Bengaluru North Taluk recording the most intense rainfall of 22.5mm of rainfall between 1:15-1:30pm.
Sunil M Gavaskar, Meteorologist at Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre, said, “The hail is due to thunderstorm activity starting from northern Bengaluru to central parts. Hail is possible because it is sudden convection. Hailstorm is common during pre-monsoon rains and it was observed yesterday (Thursday) also in some parts of the city. There will be moderate rainfall in Bengaluru today as well.”
He added, “Kodagu, Mysuru, Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajanagara, Tumkur, Hassan, Ramanagara, Chikballapura, Kolar, Bengluru Rural and Benagluru Urban districts are likely to have thunderstorm activity associated with scattered light to moderate rains and isolated places heavy rains with gusty winds at times during evening to late evening hours today (Friday).”
Hail forms when strong currents of rising air carry droplets of water high enough that they freeze. A strong current of air allows hailstones to grow large enough that they reach the ground, weather officials explained.
Rains in the city were forecast in the city by the Indian Metrological Department with widespread scattered rainfall all over south interior Karnataka along with lighting and thunderstorms. At the same time, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre had also predicted that maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal at many places in the state over the week.
Bengaluru- Sudden rain with hail stones bring big respite from heat, but with penalty brace more traffic jams, water clogging,falling trees, overflowing of the drains, lakes and power cuts... pic.twitter.com/uTp8hK7QeS
— Manoj jogiya (@ManojJogiya) May 17, 2019
Hail stones in Bengaluru. @WeAreBangalore@BngWeather @weatherchannel#Bengaluru #Rainfall #Rainfall pic.twitter.com/WMlpwghhgI
— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) May 17, 2019
#Bengaluru hail storm at Queens road pic.twitter.com/sqrURuyiP6
— [ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv] (@nalegave) May 17, 2019
Hailstones on brigade road, #bengaluru pic.twitter.com/sQLZHYGzA3
— Pooja Prasanna (@PoojaPrasanna4) May 17, 2019