Maharashtra is bracing for a spell of intense rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing red and orange alerts for several districts. The warnings come in response to a low-pressure system that has formed over the east-central Arabian Sea, near the south Konkan coast and Goa, which is expected to intensify and bring heavy showers across the region.
A red alert, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall, has been issued for Ratnagiri for May 22 and 23, and for Raigad on May 23. An orange alert is in place for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Sindhudurg, and the ghat areas of Pune and Satara, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. Mumbai specifically has an orange alert in place for May 23 and 24.
The IMD has attributed the expected weather activity to a low-pressure system in the Arabian Sea. This system is predicted to strengthen within 36 hours and move northwards, leading to increased rainfall intensity across Konkan and other parts of Maharashtra. Wind speeds are expected to range between 30-40 kmph, with gusts potentially reaching up to 60 kmph in some areas.
Given these weather warnings, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along the coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The conditions at sea are expected to be rough, particularly along the western coastline, due to the intensifying low-pressure system.
The weather forecast for Ratnagiri and Mumbai indicates a high likelihood of rain over the next few days. In Ratnagiri, there is a 65% chance of rain currently, with temperatures around 74°F (23°C) but feeling like 79°F (26°C) due to 95% humidity. The forecast for the next 11 days includes rain, heavy rain, and thunderstorms. Mumbai is also expected to experience similar conditions, with heavy pre-monsoon showers already occurring earlier in the week. Santacruz recorded 27 mm of rainfall, while the Colaba observatory registered 10 mm by Thursday morning. The minimum temperature in Santacruz on Thursday morning was 22.5°C, five degrees below the normal for this time of year.
The IMD Mumbai officials had earlier stated that rainfall intensity in Mumbai and nearby regions, including south Konkan and south-central Maharashtra, is expected to increase between May 21 and 24.
