Bengaluru: Just as the southwest monsoon begins its official retreat from parts of the country, Bengaluru could be in for another spell of rain. A weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen over the coming days, potentially bringing moderate to heavy isolated thundershowers and much-needed relief from heat.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining areas late Saturday evening. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Monday and further into a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal Tuesday. It is then expected to continue moving west-northwestwards towards the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, reaching near the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts by Wednesday.The fast-developing low-pressure condition over Bay of Bengal system could bring a welcome break from the heat, with the strengthening system expected to draw considerable moisture inland towards the state. The IMD has already issued a yellow alert for coastal districts, Belagavi, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Kodagu.Rainfall activity is expected to increase across parts of Karnataka between Tuesday and Thursday. A senior scientist at IMD, Bengaluru, said: “During this time, there will be a possibility of trough from Marathwada to Southeast Arabian Sea across Interior Karnataka and Keralam resulting in thundershowers in the first half of ensuing week. In South Interior Karnataka districts, the thundershowers are likely to be accompanied by strong, gusty winds measuring 30 to 40 km/hr.”
