MAUSAM, 63, 2 (April 2012), 223-230

551.166 (540.61) “2009”

Floods in Karnataka during 2009 : A synoptic study

B. PUTTANNA and GEETA AGNIHOTRI
Meteorological Centre, Bangalore, India
(Received 11 March 2010, Modified 27 January 2011)
e mail : [email protected]

lkj & nf{k.kh&if’peh ekulwu _rq ds nkSjku okf"kZd o"kkZ dh 73 izfr’kr o"kkZ nf{k.kh izk;}hi Hkkjr ds
dukZVd jkT; esa gksrh gSA tVhy izkd`frd Hkwxksy dh otg ls bl jkT; esa o"kkZ dh izo`fRr;ksa esa 50 ls 350 ls-
eh- dh LFkkfud ifjorZu’khyrk dks dkQh ns[kk x;k gSA ekulwu o"kkZ dh var% okf"kZd ifjorZu’khyrk lglaca/k
rVh; dukZVd esa 15 izfr’kr vkSj van:uh dukZVd esa 20 ls 30 izfr’kr gksrs gSA bl jkT; esa gksus okyh o"kkZ
eq[;r;k if’peh rV ds lehi virVh; nzks.kh ekulwu _rq ds nkSjku caxky dh [kkMh esa cuus okys fuEunkc
ra=ks ls izHkkfor gksrh gSA 28 flracj ls 3 vDVcj 2009 ds nkSjku caxky dh [kkMh esa fuEunkc {ks= cuus ls
mRrjh dukZVd esa tku vkSj eky dk Hkkjh uqdlku gqvkA bl 'kks/k i= esa bl ra= ds flukWfIVd y{k.kksa dh
tk¡p djus dk iz;kl fd;k x;k gS ftudh otg ls bl jkT; ds vusd ftyksa esa Hkkjh o"kkZ gksrh gS vkSj
QyLo:i jkT; esa nwj nwj rd rckgh gksrh gSA
ABSTRACT . Karnataka a State in south peninsular India receives 73% of its annual rainfall during southwest
monsoon season. Because of the complex physiographical features, the rainfall pattern over the State shows large spatial
variation from 50 to 350 cms. The coefficient of interannual variation of the monsoon rainfall is about 15% over coastal
Karnataka (CK) and between 20-30% over interior Karnataka. The precipitation over this State is mainly dominated by
semi permanent systems like off shore trough running along the west coast, low pressure systems forming over the Bay of
Bengal during the monsoon season. A well marked low pressure area during 28 September - 3 October 2009 over the Bay
of Bengal caused widespread damage to life and property in north Karnataka. In this study, an attempt has been made to
examine the synoptic features of this system that caused heavy rainfall over many districts of the State leading to
widespread destruction.

Key words ‒ Monsoon, Floods, Synoptic, Off-shore trough.

1. Introduction amounting to 317 cm due to interaction between the

orography and the monsoon flow. The normal rainfall
Karnataka State in south peninsular India is confined over NIK and SIK are 47 and 66 cm respectively. The
within the 11.5° and 18.5° N latitudes and 74° and 78.5° E northern interior districts of the State are comparatively
longitudes respectively. The south-west monsoon is the dry and have large coefficient of variability of rainfall as
principal rainy season during which it receives 73% of its compared to the southern districts. The north interior
annual rainfall. It has basically four physiographical districts of NIK namely, Bijapur, Raichur, Bellary and
regions (Fig. 1) viz., the coastal plains comprising of three southern half of Gulbarga record lowest rainfall varying
districts namely Uttar Kannada, Dakshin Kannada and from 50 to 60 cm. Overall, the rainfall pattern over the
Udipi, the ghat region comprising of four districts namely State shows large spatial variation. The coefficient of
Shimoga, Chikmangalur, Hassan and Kodagu, southern interannual variation of the monsoon rainfall is about 15%
districts and north interior Karnataka. This State has three over CK and between 20-30% over interior Karnataka.
meteorological subdivisions viz., coastal Karnataka (CK),
south interior Karnataka (SIK) and north interior The monsoon precipitation over Karnataka is
Karnataka (NIK). The orography plays a very important dominated by the off shore trough running along the west
role in the rainfall pattern over the coastal and ghat coast. The strengthening of the westerlies or south-
regions of the State. The monsoon rainfall over the entire westerlies along the west coast causes good rainfall. The
State varies from 50 to 350 cm. The CK which lies on the other synoptic scale systems that cause rainfall are the
windward side of Western Ghats receives very heavy rain lows and the depressions forming in west-central (WC)

(223)
224 MAUSAM, 63, 2 (April 2012)

Fig. 1. Physiographical features of Karnataka State

and north-west (NW) Bay of Bengal and their movement all the dams in the State were nearly full owing to normal
in a westerly to north-westerly direction (Rao 1976). monsoon rainfall. During the period of 28 September to 3
These systems enhance the south-westerly monsoon October 2009, the rainfall departure was 378% for the
current over the State leading to the increased interaction State as a whole and was 340, 698 and 117% for CK, NIK
of the monsoon current with the orography and hence and SIK met subdivisions respectively. According to the
rainfall. During the active south-west monsoon conditions, press reports, nearly 1.8 lakh people were rendered
the winds are of the order of 20-40kts in the lower levels homeless following the heavy rains and flash floods in
and heavy (>7cm) to very heavy rainfall (12-24cm) north Karnataka. The sources from the State Agriculture
activity is confined only to the coastal and ghat regions of Department testified that there was widespread damage to
the State. the Kharif crops and horticulture crops. According to the
press reports, a bridge across the Tungabhadra River was
During the period of 6 days from 28 September to 3 washed away in the flash floods. The torrential rains in
October 2009, there was huge damage to the life and Uttar Kannada district triggered landslides near Karwar
property due to incessant rains over the entire State. The killing 21 people. Met Office (MO) Karwar recorded 18
rains caused havoc in as many as 11 districts of NIK and 43 cms of rainfall on 2 and 3 October 2009. Rainfall
which is usually a rain deficient region. Bijapur and of 43 cms is the highest ever recorded in the month of
Raichur in NIK were the worst affected districts of the rest October by this station. It is known that if 3 mm of rainfall
of districts. The houses in north Karnataka are made of occurs in 15minutes, it is considered as a heavy rainfall
wood and mud primarily and continuous rain for nearly 6 spell. Fig. 2 the hyetogram of MO Karwar, shows that
days has added to the devastation. The rainfall departure maximum rainfall of 38 cms occurred during 0900 to 1500
for the period of 1 June to 27 September 2009 for the hrs (IST) of the 2 October 2009. The Raichur observatory
State as a whole was 13% showing that monsoon rainfall in NIK, Bellary in SIK received a rainfall of 25 and 14
was normal. As per the records of the State Government, cms respectively on 2 October 2009 which are the highest
 PUTTANNA & AGNIHOTRI : FLOODS IN KARNATAKA DURING 2009 225

M.O. Karwar 0815 02.10.09 0814 03.10.09

Fig. 2. Hyetogram of Met Office Karwar on 3 October 2009

TABLE 1 lay as the well-marked LOPAR (WML) over the same

region and persisted there on 30 September 2009. On 1
October, it moved in the westerly direction and lay over
Surface data Upper air Autographic instruments
WC Bay and adjoining north-coastal Andhra Pradesh (N-
Temporal scale 3 hours 12 hours continuous CAP) and south-coastal Orissa. On the 2 October, this
WML moved a little westward and lay over Telangana
ever recorded by these stations during this month. Normal and adjoining CAP. On 3 October, the WML persisted
life was disrupted due to heavy rains, flash floods and over Telangana and neighborhood. On all the days, the
landslides. In this paper, the synoptic situation that associated CYCIR was extending upto MTL.
contributed to the unusual rainfall over Karnataka during
the monsoon season has been discussed. Some of the very heavy to extremely heavy
(>24.5cm) amounts of rainfall in cm during 30 September
2. Data and methodology to 3 October 2009 are given below :

The synoptic and the upper air data during the period 30 September 2009 : Gersoppa 22, Soundatti 17,
28 September to 3 October 2009 was collected from the Nagatana, Bhatkal and Honavar 13
Meteorological Centre (MC) Bangalore. The self each and Karwar 12.
recording rainguage (SRRG) charts from the departmental 1 October 2009 : Devarahippargi 15, Siruguppa 14,
observatories were collected from MC Bangalore and Sindhanur and Sandur 12 each.
were analyzed for finding out the intensity of the rainfall.
The frequency of the data from surface, upper air and 2 October 2009 : Sindhanur 29, Siruguppa &
autographic instruments is provided in the Table 1. Raichur 25 each, Manvi 22,
Karwar and Narayanpura 18 each,
3. Results and discussion Gangavathi 17, Dharamsthala 16,
Bellary, Sandur, Belthangadi 15
3.1. Synoptic Situation during 28 September – each, Subramanya, Mudagal and
3 October 2009 Maski 14 each, Yelburga 13,
Deodurga, Badami, Jamakhandi,
On 28 September 2009 a low pressure area (LOPAR) Karkala & Bhatkala 12 each.
was lying over WC Bay of Bengal and neighborhood. The
associated cyclonic circulation (CYCIR) was extending up 3 October 2009 : Karwar 43, Ankola 18, Kumta 17,
to mid tropospheric levels (MTL) tilting SW-wards with Agumbe 15, Honavar 14, Sringeri
height. On 29 September, the LOPAR over the WC Bay and Kundapura 13 each.
226 MAUSAM, 63, 2 (April 2012)

(a)

(b)

Figs. 3 (a&b). Streamline flow on 0000 UTC of 2 October 2009 at (a) 850 hPa and (b) 700 hPa
 PUTTANNA & AGNIHOTRI : FLOODS IN KARNATAKA DURING 2009 227

(c)

Fig. 3 (c). Streamline flow on 0000 UTC of 2 October 2009 at 500 hPa

During the entire life period, the low pressure system it persisted over N-CAP and Telangana region for nearly 2
was very strong and was extending up to 400 hPa in the days. The 24 hr accumulated rainfall on 2 and 3 October
vertical. The streamline analysis at 850, 700 and 500 hPa 2009 are shown in Figs. 5 (a&b).
[Figs. 3(a-c)] of 2 October 2009 are presented for brevity.
It is seen from this figure that the lower level winds up to 4. Conclusions
700 hPa were very strong, of the order of 30-35kts. This
caused a deep penetration of the moisture over the entire The heavy rainfall over Karnataka in association
south peninsula from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of with the system in Bay of Bengal during 28 September to
Bengal. Maximum moisture convergence was due to the 3 October 2009 is due to :
strong low level westerlies to the south of the centre of the
system. (i) Formation of the system in the southerly latitude and
its movement in the westerly direction.
Fig. 4(a) shows the 24 hour pressure change (P24 P24)
at 0300 UTC of 2 October 2009. This shows that the (ii) The strong westerly winds in the lower levels
system is moving primarily in the westerly direction. The contributed to strong moisture incursion from the Arabian
pressure change is of the order of 2 hPa. The pressure Sea into the peninsular India causing widespread rainfall.
departure from normal [Fig. 4(b)] was of the order of
-8 to -6 hPa over the entire south peninsula. The (iii) The floods in Karnataka were due to the already full
movement of the system was quite slow overland and also dams in the State owing to the normal monsoon rains.
228 MAUSAM, 63, 2 (April 2012)

(a)

(b)

Figs. 4 (a&b). (a) Pressure change during 24 hrs and (b) Pressure departure from normal at 0300 UTC of 2 October 2009
 PUTTANNA & AGNIHOTRI : FLOODS IN KARNATAKA DURING 2009 229

(a)

(b)

Figs. 5(a&b). 24 hr accumulated rainfall observed at 0300 UTC (a) 2 October 2009 (b) 3 October 2009
230 MAUSAM, 63, 2 (April 2012)

Acknowledgements Reference

The authors are thankful to Deputy Director General

of Meteorology, IMD Chennai for his encouragement and Rao, Y. P., 1976, Southwest Monsoon. Meteorological Monograph
support. Authors are also thankful to the anonymous Synoptic Meteorology 1/1976, India Meteorological
Department.
referee for the valuable suggestions and comments.