According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), although some areas have recorded a weekly rainfall deficit, the cumulative seasonal rainfall remains satisfactory. Pune recorded a weekly rainfall deficit of 82 per cent between September 10 and 16. However, the district's cumulative seasonal rainfall is 20 per cent above average.
The weather department has forecast heavy rainfall over the next two to three days. A significant change in weather conditions is being observed due to an intense low-pressure area that has developed over the Bay of Bengal. Nagpur, Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts have been placed under an orange alert for Thursday. Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli have been issued an orange alert for Friday.
Rain is also expected over Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan. Several parts of Mumbai may witness sudden thunderstorms between September 23 and 25. Pune city and the ghat areas are also expected to receive thundershowers today, with the possibility of lightning and strong winds.
The IMD has issued a warning of rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds for Pune, Pune's ghat areas, Nashik and its ghat areas, Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur and its ghat areas, Satara and its ghat areas, Solapur and Sangli on September 23.
On Tuesday, September 22, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were lashed by rain. Water accumulated in low-lying areas of the cities, while several roads took on the appearance of rivers. A few minutes of rain at night exposed the administration's preparedness, while residents faced considerable difficulties.
Across Maharashtra, a yellow alert has been issued for Vidarbha, Marathwada and Konkan, with warnings of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning. Cloudy conditions are expected at most places, while some areas may receive light to moderate showers.
Rainfall intensity is expected to increase in Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Yavatmal, Wardha, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli, where thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain are possible. Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg may also receive heavy rain accompanied by lightning. Scattered rainfall with lightning is expected in Nashik, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ahilyanagar and Solapur.
Meanwhile, the intensity of rainfall in Pune has eased, but the city is still waiting for a double-digit rainfall spell after 52 days. On Tuesday, the city's main weather station at Shivajinagar recorded only 0.5 mm of rain in 24 hours. Chinchwad, Hadapsar and Pashan also recorded 0.5 mm each.
Magarpatta recorded 2 mm of rain, while Ambegaon received 23 mm and Dhamdhere recorded 17.5 mm during the same period.
According to weather experts from 'Vegaries of the Weather', 52 days have now passed without double-digit rainfall, meaning 10 mm or more in 24 hours, in the Shivajinagar area. Data dating back to 2014 shows that a longer dry spell had previously occurred only in 2018, when the city went 64 consecutive days without recording double-digit rainfall.
This makes the current spell the second-longest dry period recorded in the area in recent years. Despite the prolonged gap in double-digit rainfall, Shivajinagar has recorded a total of 706 mm of rain during the current monsoon season.
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