Stormy Skies Ahead: The pre-monsoon weather activity has intensified across Maharashtra, bringing widespread thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and the threat of hailstorms over the next 48 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Yellow and Orange alerts for several districts, warning residents of potentially disruptive weather conditions. According to the IMD, the state will continue to witness intense pre-monsoon showers till May 31, paving the way for the official onset of the monsoon shortly after. A sudden shift in atmospheric conditions has led to a drop in temperatures in some regions, while others continue to reel under humid and cloudy skies. (Stormy Skies Ahead)
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Heavy Rainfall Forecast in Coastal and Inland Areas
Between May 20 and 25, the western coastal belt—including Karnataka, Konkan-Goa, and Kerala—is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Specifically, on May 20 and 21, Karnataka is likely to witness extremely heavy showers, followed by similar intensity rains in the Konkan region on May 21.
Yellow Alert for 31 Districts
A Yellow Alert has been issued for the next 48 hours across a vast swathe of Maharashtra, covering districts like Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Dharashiv, Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, and Yavatmal. These areas are expected to experience thunderstorm activity with wind speeds of 30–40 km/h, accompanied by lightning and heavy rainfall. The intensity of rainfall is expected to reduce after 48 hours.
Orange Alert: Gale-Force Winds and Hailstorm Threat
The IMD has upgraded its alert to Orange for districts including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Ahmednagar, the ghat regions, Kolhapur, Satara, and Sangli. These areas may face wind gusts up to 60 km/h and hailstorm activity, especially in rural parts. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also predicted in these regions.
| Severity Level | Alert Color | Districts Affected | Forecast Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔵 Moderate | Blue | Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nashik, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Latur, Nanded, Dharashiv, Bhandara, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal | Localized thunderstorms with moderate rain and 30–40 km/h winds |
| 🟡 Significant | Yellow | Pune, Solapur, Sambhajinagar, Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Chandrapur | Heavy rain with lightning and gusty winds (30–40 km/h) |
| 🔴 Severe | Red | Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar), Western Ghats (Ghat regions) | Very heavy rain, 60 km/h winds, hailstorm risk in rural areas |
Monsoon to Arrive Early This Year
In a significant update, the IMD has forecast that the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Maharashtra six days ahead of schedule. Monsoonal winds are expected to reach the state by May 25, with onset in Kerala by May 27. Mumbai, Konkan, and western Maharashtra are expected to see monsoon arrival by the first week of June, while the entire state is likely to be covered by mid-June.
With no significant weather systems obstructing its path, the monsoon is expected to be timely and well-distributed this year, raising hopes for a good rainfall season.
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