Residents of Mysuru are facing an unusual heatwave, with the city recording a maximum temperature of 34.2°C on Sunday. This is nearly 5°C above the normal September temperature of 29.4°C and one of the highest temperatures recorded in the city during September in recent years.
The previous instance of such a high temperature was on September 15, 2018, when it also hit 34.2°C. Earlier this month, on September 5, Mysuru recorded 34°C, making it the second‑warmest day of the month. Former Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) director G Srinivasa Reddy said the sharp rise could signal the start of an intense El Niño‑related phase and warned that Karnataka may endure a prolonged dry spell until the last week of September.
On Monday, temperatures eased slightly to around 32°C under cloudy skies, offering some respite, but residents said the heat was already hard to bear. “It is impossible to stay indoors without an AC or cooler. Mysuru generally experiences moderate weather during September and October, with occasional rain, but this year the heat has been extremely uncomfortable,” said Sharada Timmaiah, a retired academician from Bogadi.
Between June 1 and September 7, Chamarajanagar posted the state’s highest rainfall deficit at 58% below normal, while Mysuru and Vijayanagara each recorded deficits of 57% below normal.