Maharashtra's weather office has put four districts, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, under an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain over the next two days. Meteorologist Praveen Kumar said east Vidarbha could see around 100 MM of rainfall in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Heavy showers likely across east Vidarbha
Praveen Kumar said conditions are building for heavy rain across east Vidarbha, with Wardha and Nagpur districts also expected to receive good rainfall. He added that parts of west Vidarbha also have a strong chance of good rain, meaning the downpour will not be limited to the eastern belt alone.
Mumbai, Thane and ghat areas also on alert
Besides the four Vidarbha districts, an orange alert for heavy rain has also been issued for Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, and the ghat sections of Pune and Satara. That means Mumbai and its neighbouring cities could face intense rain over the next two days, which may disrupt daily commutes.
Yellow alert districts warned of lightning and storms
Nashik, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts have been placed under a yellow alert for heavy rain. A yellow alert warning of lightning and thunderstorms has also been issued for parts of Jalgaon in north-central Maharashtra, along with the Vidarbha districts of Buldhana, Washim, Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal, Wardha and Nagpur. Residents in these areas have been advised to stay cautious.
Monsoon deficit of 35 to 40 percent set to narrow
Maharashtra has so far recorded a rainfall deficit of 35 to 40 percent below normal this monsoon season. Officials said the fresh spell of heavy rain expected across these regions over the coming days will largely make up for that shortfall, offering relief for farmers and water sources across the state.
