BANGALORE: The temperatures in the city may be rising, but winter is likely to continue until the end of February, according to Meteorological Department officials.
“The minimum temperature is slowly increasing, but will continue to be around 15 degrees celsius for some more days,” says meteorologist Puttanna. This winter has seen temperatures as low as 12 degrees celsius, but the average temperature has risen during the past decade. Air pollution and high rise buildings have contributed to the city being warmer by 1-2 degrees celsius compared to suburban areas. The lowest temperature ever recorded for Bangalore was 7.8 degrees celsius in 1884, but such a dip in temperature will never happen again due to the city’s industrialization, says Puttanna. In recent times, the coldest winter was on January 8, 1991, when the minimum temperature was 10 degrees celsius. The maximum temperature ever recorded in winter is 32.4 degrees celsius on January 24, 2000. “Unlike North India, Bangalore is not prone to cold waves or abrupt changes in temperature.” Puttanna says.