Karnataka Sees Sharper Winter Chill as Temperatures Drop Across Many Districts
Weather data shows long-term cooling trend, with record low temperatures recorded in many districts over the past 20 years.
Bengaluru: Karnataka is experiencing a stronger and more widespread cold spell this winter, with weather data indicating that the drop in temperatures is not just seasonal but part of a longer-term trend.
According to records, nearly half of the state’s districts have reported unusually low minimum temperatures over the last two decades. Many of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in these regions have occurred only since 2005, even though temperature monitoring has been carried out for more than 100 years. This points to a clear change in recent climate patterns.
Districts such as Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Raichur, Vijayapura and Bidar have seen most of their coldest years since 1901 occurring in the last 20 years. Minimum temperatures in these areas have fallen sharply, touching 9.5°C in Bengaluru Rural, 8.1°C in Mysuru, 7.1°C in Raichur, 6°C in Vijayapura and 5.6°C in Bidar.
Bagalkot has shown an even more striking trend. Despite having temperature records for over four decades, eight of its coldest years have been recorded since 2022, with temperatures dipping to as low as 6.6°C.
Meteorologists attribute the recent fall in temperatures to several atmospheric factors, including western disturbances and changes in upper-level wind patterns. These conditions have led to cold wave alerts in parts of the state, raising concerns about public health and crop damage, especially due to fungal diseases.
Climate experts note that Karnataka has witnessed extreme weather across all seasons this year. A prolonged monsoon is believed to have set the stage for an unusually cold winter. Global and regional factors, including ongoing La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean, are also contributing to the intensified cold.
Other districts such as Kalaburagi, Chitradurga, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru have also experienced persistent cold over the past two decades, with minimum temperatures frequently dropping to 10°C or lower. These districts have recorded seven to eight of their coldest years in the 21st century alone.
Weather trends suggest that temperatures could fall further in January, which is typically colder than December. Districts like Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri, Davangere, and both urban and rural Bengaluru are expected to feel the sharper chill.
Experts say the growing frequency of extreme weather events — including cold waves, floods, heatwaves and severe storms — reflects broader climate change. These shifts are linked to natural climate variations as well as human activities such as deforestation, reduced forest cover and changes in land use. Clear skies at night and cold air moving in from northern regions are also contributing to the falling temperatures across Karnataka.
