Heavy Rains Expected in Many Districts of Maharashtra During Ganeshotsav – IMD

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, heavy rains are expected to return to Maharashtra as Ganeshotsav begins. Several districts in the Konkan region and the ghats of Madhya Maharashtra spread across Pune, Satara and Kolhapur are under a yellow alert from August 25 onwards, due to the formation of a fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.

IMD officials said the new system is likely to move westwards across central India. While this episode may not be as intense as last week’s torrential rainfall, it is strong enough to bring heavy rain, especially along the Konkan belt. Mumbai will face the heaviest downpour between August 25 and 28. Private forecaster Skymet Weather has predicted over 100 mm of rain in 24 hours on some days, particularly around August 26–27, coinciding with the start of Ganesh festival.

The rainfall activity is expected to reduce gradually after August 28. However in Pune city only moderate rain is expected during this period even though ghats of Pune will receive heavy to very heavy rain. The city may only see light showers till August 25, followed by light to moderate spells through the week. Weather experts have reassured that there is no risk of a repeat of the August 19–20 flooding.

Districts expected to witness heavy rain include Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane, Palghar, Mumbai, and the ghat sections of Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, and Satara. Apart from heavy showers, the forecast also indicates thunderstorms with lightning in some parts of Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on August 23 and 24.

Independent forecasters added that while the Konkan and ghat regions may receive intense rainfall, it will mostly be part of a normal monsoon phase. For Nashik, Solapur, Sangli, Vidarbha and Marathwada, only light to moderate showers with occasional thunderstorms are expected.