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This coolness is real and measurable. However, cloud cover and moisture in the air are increasing the effect of the cold, making it feel colder than the thermometer suggests.
In simple words, the city is being hit by the weather. Technically the monsoon is over, but it is not completely over. (Image: X)
Step out into Bengaluru these days and the city feels undecided. The morning is too cold to remove the jacket. The evenings bring moist coolness. Afternoon skies threaten with rain, and air quality alerts pop up quietly in weather updates.
A city once renowned for its predictable climate, Bengaluru now feels caught between seasons and struggling to define which one it really is. So is it winter? Are these the remnants of a late monsoon? Or is something else entirely affecting the city’s weather?
Cold weather feels like winter, but it’s not quite here yet
Bengaluru’s winter typically lasts from December to February, with low night temperatures, mild days and dry air. Over the past few weeks, there has been a steady decline in temperatures, with day maximum temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius and night temperatures dropping to 15-17 degrees in some areas.
This coolness is real and measurable. However, cloud cover and moisture in the air are increasing the effect of the cold, making it feel colder than the thermometer suggests. It’s classic behavior at the beginning of winter, but with a twist.
Unlike traditional Bengaluru winters, the air is not completely dry, and sunshine is inconsistent. That missing crispness is the key to why the season feels unfamiliar.
Rain warning refuses to go away
What further complicates the picture is rain. Even though the southwest monsoon officially withdrew months ago, intermittent rains continue in Bengaluru. These are associated with post-monsoon systems, residual moisture from the north-east monsoon and occasional low pressure formations over the Bay of Bengal.
The rain is not heavy, but frequent enough to make a difference. Drizzle at short intervals increases humidity, makes roads wet and increases traffic congestion. For residents, this creates a confusing sensory experience – cool air mixed with moisture, not the dry winter air that Bengaluru is known for.
In simple words, the city is being hit by the weather. Technically the monsoon is over, but it is not completely over.
Poor air quality shatters seasonal illusion
Normally, rain would mean cleaner air. But Bengaluru’s recent air quality tells a different story. Despite cool temperatures and occasional rains, the city continues to record moderate to poor air quality index levels, especially for PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants.
This trend is typical for the post-monsoon and early winter period. During cooler months, temperature inversions trap pollutants closer to the ground. Vehicle emissions, construction dust and industrial activity accumulate faster than they can disperse.
Humidity adds another layer. The moist air prevents pollutants from dispersing efficiently, leading to persistent smog, especially during early morning and late evening. The result is a city that looks cold and feels wet, but still forces sensitive residents to limit outdoor exposure.
cyclone effect
The air in Bengaluru seems to be in line with the distant churn of Cyclone Ditvah that has been forming over the Bay of Bengal recently. Although the storm’s center is far away, its outer bands are spreading moisture-laden winds inland – followed by cloudy skies, sudden drizzle and cold winds.
The result: early mornings are hazy, afternoons are humid, evenings are damp and cold, and the sky is a cross between rain and mist. Ditvaha has not directly hit Karnataka, yet its atmospheric pull has started to reshape Bengaluru’s December weather, blurring the line between post-monsoon humidity and early winter coolness.
So what season is Bengaluru in right now?
The honest answer is that Bengaluru is in a transition phase, which does not fit neatly into calendar-defined seasons.
Right now, the city is experiencing:
- early winter temperature patterns
- moisture retention after monsoon
- Air pollution increases due to winter
Each factor overlaps with the other, causing seasonal boundaries to become blurred.
This is no longer unusual. Climate experts believe that urban growth, reduction in green cover and changing wind patterns have changed the way cities experience weather. Bengaluru, due to its intense construction and vehicle density, feels these changes more acutely.
What does it mean for daily life
For residents, mixed signals mean constant adjustments. Light jackets are needed in the morning, umbrellas are useful by afternoon and masks are still useful in the evening. Health experts advise people with asthma, allergies or respiratory problems to exercise caution, as cold air combined with poor AQI can trigger symptoms more easily.
Despite light rain, the risk of waterlogging remains. And fluctuations in temperature increase the chances of viral infection, especially when people wear either too light or too warm clothes according to the actual conditions.
A new normal, not a passing phase
What Bengaluru is experiencing is not a temporary weather anomaly. This is a structural change in weather behavior in a rapidly urbanizing city. Winters are less defined. Monsoon spills over. Pollution is at its peak during unpredictable weather.
Instead of clear seasonal chapters, the city now goes through overlapping weather patterns. So, when someone asks what is the season in Bengaluru at this time, the answer may seem unsatisfactory but it is accurate.
It’s not just winter. Monsoon is not complete yet. This is Bengaluru’s new beach season – cold, wet, polluted and increasingly familiar.
December 01, 2025, 12:23 IST
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