IMD predicts heavy rain in Karnataka for 3 days, issues orange, red alerts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy rainfall in parts of Karnataka for three consecutive days due to a low-pressure system forming in the Bay of Bengal and coinciding with the end of the Southwest Monsoon. The meteorological agency has issued an orange alert for the entire state, a red alert for coastal regions on Thursday, and an orange alert for the South Interior region.

Rainfall is expected to persist in the South Interior and coastal Karnataka areas on Friday, with isolated spells of very intense showers anticipated in certain areas.

Karnataka has experienced a significant rainfall deficit this monsoon season, with only 35 mm of rain received so far, a 67 per cent shortfall compared to the normal of 107 mm for September. This deficit is the largest since records began, raising concerns about the critical situation. The September rainfall deficit is 42 per cent compared to the normal of 199 mm in June, 29 per cent versus the normal of 271 mm in July, and 23 per cent above the normal of 220 mm in August.

The water storage levels in the state's reservoirs are also alarmingly low. The KRS reservoir, one of the largest in Karnataka, held 27.76 TMC of water on September 21, a fraction of its full capacity of 47.73 TMC. Other reservoirs in North Karnataka are in a better position than those in the South. The Almatti dam in North Karnataka had 115 thousand million cubic feet of water on September 21, compared to the dam's maximum capacity of 123 TMC last year, highlighting the stark contrast between the contrasting rainfall patterns across the state.