The Garden City has become a "Chill City" during the past few days with a biting cold wave sweeping over Bengaluru and parts of Karnataka. Residents awoke on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, to a thick blanket of mist and a sharp drop in mercury, with the temperature running between 14°C and 16°C, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated is expected to continue to be bone-chilling for the next four days, supported by scattered drizzles.
The "Bay of Bengal" Effect
Meteorologists have assigned this sharp acceleration of the winter to a Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal. This system has initiated powerful cold winds and moisture inundation through South Interior Karnataka, which has caused:
- Sturdy Cloud Cover: Most of Bengaluru has experienced minimal sunlight today, leaving daytime temperatures well below those considered normal in most of Bengaluru.
- Light Showers: While much of the state is still dry, such districts including Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura, Ramanagara, Mandya and Mysuru will probably experience light drizzles in the next 48 hours.
Life in the Freezer: Bengaluru Adjusts
The signature parks of Bengaluru, in which morning joggers in lightweight apparel usually gathered, were a different story today. At Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, people in heavy woolens, sweaters, jackets and beanies had been spotted wrapping themselves. Regardless of the chill, a number of elderly residents and fitness aficionados continued their lives while enjoying the unusual “hill station” feel of the city.
But the weather has issued a health warning. Doctors working in the city have reported an increase in viral infections and respiratory problems. “The combination of cold winds and fluctuating temperatures is a trigger for the flu. We discourage people — young and old — to come outside during the early morning and late evening hours,” a senior consultant at a city hospital said.
State-Wide Weather Outlook
As the South shivers, the rest of the state is seeing varying weather:
- North Interior Karnataka: Areas including Bidar, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Kalaburagi still experienced arid, extremely cold mornings. Bidar logged the state's lowest minimum temperature at approximately 10°C.
- Coastal Region: Districts such as Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada are still rather warmer, but their dryness remained constant.
The IMD expects that though the cloud cover may start to lift after Jan. 14, the misty mornings and low minimum temperatures can remain consistent for the weekend.
