Patchy rainfall across Karnataka; 35% deficit in southwest monsoon

Twelve districts – Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South, Kolar, Mandya, Chitradurga, Koppal, Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura and Yadgir – received normal rainfall. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

Although the southwest monsoon arrived in Karnataka on June 4, the state recorded an actual rainfall of 71 mm against the normal of 109 mm for the period from June 1 to 18.

According to the June rainfall model of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Center (KSNDMC), there was a decrease of -35%. Data for June 2026 so far shows that South Interior Karnataka received 44 mm against the normal 48 mm, a variation of -6%, while North Interior Karnataka received 53 mm against 63 mm, a variation of -16%. Malnad and coastal regions recorded 89 mm and 191 mm against the normal 178 mm and 419 mm respectively, reflecting deviations of -50% and -54%.

Large surplus to deficit

The KSNDMC data further said that five districts – Bagalkot, Raichur, Ballari, Chickballapur and Tumakuru – received large excess rainfall. Twelve districts – Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South, Kolar, Mandya, Chitradurga, Koppal, Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura and Yadgir – received normal rainfall.

Meanwhile, rainfall deficit was recorded in 12 districts — Kalaburgi, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Vijayanagar, Davangere, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.

Two districts – Shivamogga and Bidar – experienced a large deficit of rainfall.

During this period, 17 taluks received heavy excess rainfall while 24 and 66 taluks recorded excess and normal rainfall respectively. The data said 103 taluks fell with rainfall deficit and 30 recorded major rainfall deficit.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already said that Karnataka’s average rainfall during the southwest monsoon season (June to September) is most likely to be below normal.

According to the seasonal rainfall probability forecast over Karnataka during the season, Coastal Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka are expected to experience below normal rainfall while North Interior Karnataka is likely to experience below to near normal rainfall.

It may intensify after June 21

IMD scientist CS Patil said the intensity of monsoon will remain weak for the next two to three days and is expected to “intensify” by June 21-22.

“Early next week there is a 75% chance of rainfall in coastal Karnataka, 50% and 25% in south and north interior Karnataka,” he said.

Bengaluru city, which has been witnessing a rise in maximum temperature (around 30-31 degrees Celsius) for the past few days, witnessed cloud cover on Thursday with the maximum temperature dropping to 26.4 degrees Celsius.

The forecast for the next two days indicates generally cloudy skies, light to moderate rain likely, and gusty winds (30-40 km/h) expected in one or two places.

The maximum and minimum temperature is very likely to be around 29 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius.

Published – 18 Jun 2026 19:05 IST