Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the twin coastal districts, received a welcome reprieve from the scorching heat as they experienced moderately good rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Thursday. According to sources from the weather department, the region received 5.5 mm of rainfall, surpassing the normal average of 0.11 mm for the same period.
The formation of a whirlwind at approximately 5.8 km above sea level, triggered by a low-pressure system at sea level, led to widespread rainfall in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
While Bantwal and Belthangady taluks in Dakshina Kannada witnessed heavy rainfall, other parts of the district experienced lighter rains.
Heavy rains hit coastal Karnataka: KSNDMC issues alert
On January 4, heavy rains lashed the coastal regions of Karnataka, impacting areas like Mangaluru and Udupi. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) issued a rainfall alert, attributing the weather conditions to a low-pressure area in the southeast Arabian Sea. A trough extending from the associated cyclonic circulation runs off the north Kerala coast at lower levels.
The KSNDMC alert outlined the expected impact: Scattered to widespread, light to moderate rains, and, in isolated locations, heavy rains are anticipated over Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, as well as parts of Chamarajanagar, Shivamogga, Mysuru, and Mandya districts. The remaining areas of Karnataka are expected to experience cloudy conditions with isolated, very light to light rains over the next five days.
In the coastal region, encompassing Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts, an average rainfall of 5.5 mm was recorded in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on January 4. This contrasts with the normal average rainfall of 0.1 mm for the period. Specific district-wise figures indicate Dakshina Kannada recorded an average of 5.2 mm of rainfall, Udupi district experienced an average of 15.6 mm, and Uttara Kannada witnessed an average of 2.1 mm of rainfall during the same period. The alert underscores the potential impact of these weather conditions on various districts in the region.
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