Study Reveals Rising Thunderstorm and Lightning Activity in Bengaluru A recent study published in the Current World Environment Journal has highlighted a significant and steady increase in thunderstorm and lightning activities in Bengaluru over the past 13 years. The research, conducted by scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bangalore University, and Andhra University, analyzed data spanning from 2011 to 2023, revealing a troubling trend of escalating severe weather events in the city. The findings underscore the growing impact of climate factors such as heat and humidity on storm development, with implications for future weather patterns in the region. The study, titled “Thunderstorms and their Influence on Meteorology and Atmospheric Composition over Southern Peninsular,” found that Bengaluru experiences an average of 41 thunderstorm days and 157 lightning strikes annually. However, the data shows a marked upward trend, with thunderstorms increasing by 3.41% per year and lightning events rising by 3.3% annually. This pattern is not isolated to a single event but reflects a recurring phenomenon, as evidenced by the city’s experience of heavy downpours and hailstorms on April 29, 2026. During this incident, Bengaluru’s city station recorded 78 mm of rainfall within 30 minutes, a stark example of the intensity of these storms. The researchers attributed the surge in thunderstorm activity to a combination of rising local temperatures, increasing relative humidity, and the influence of monsoonal systems. Over the 13-year period, Bengaluru’s cumulative rainfall rose by 1.44 mm per year, while relative humidity increased by 0.74% annually. Notably, surface temperatures in the city showed a slight decline of 0.#india_meteorological_department #andhra_university #bangalore_university #current_world_environment_journal #bengaluru_city_station
