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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
City logs 2nd wettest May day in 10 yrs, after Tauktae
Mumbai: A 24-hour period between May 26 and 27 marked the second wettest May day in 10 years for both IMD observatories in Mumbai. The Colaba station recorded 162 mm of rainfall, while the Santacruz observatory logged 144 mm. This level of precipitation was last seen in May 2021, during Cyclone Tauktae, an event not related to the early arrival of the monsoon. At that time, Colaba and Santacruz recorded 257.8 mm and 256 mm of rain, respectively. So far this May, IMD Colaba has recorded 473.1 mm of rainfall, surpassing its previous all-time monthly high of 279.4 mm set in May 1918. Santacruz has recorded 343.2 mm of rain this month. Despite the downpour, rainfall remained largely confined to south Mumbai. The suburbs and catchment areas that feed the city's water supply lakes received little to no precipitation. As of Tuesday, water stock levels remain unchanged at 15%. The rains, however, did bring some relief from the heat. Minimum temperatures dropped below 30°C, down from nearly 34°C last week. On Tuesday, IMD Colaba recorded a low of 26.4°C, while Santacruz reported 28.7°C. Although the intensity of rain decreased on Tuesday, a yellow alert remains in effect for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar until May 27, while Raigad is under an orange alert for May 27-28. On Monday, during a nine-hour period ending at 5.30 pm, Colaba received 16.6 mm of rain, while Santacruz saw just 1.2 mm. Weather enthusiast Abhijit Modak explained that Monday's heavy rain in south Mumbai was due to a shear zone and vortices convergence, which primarily impacted Raigad. "While Raigad was expected to face intense weather, adjoining areas like Badlapur and parts of south Mumbai also experienced a thunderstorm build-up early in the morning. These cells, influenced by the shear zone, tracked from northeast to southwest, placing south Mumbai in the path of heavy rainfall," he said. "In contrast (northern areas) saw minimal rain, as they lay outside the main thunderstorm path." According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon has already reached Mumbai and Pune. Over the next 2-3 days, it is expected to advance further into the central Arabian Sea, more parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and much of the west-central and northern Bay of Bengal.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Monsoon-like rain fury stuns all in Pune; orange and yellow alerts in parts of Maharashtra
Pune: May has brought unusually intense rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, with the city recording significant precipitation that makes it feel more like monsoon. Rainfall figures from 8:30am till 8.30pm on Tuesday showed Chinchwad recorded the highest rainfall at a staggering 80mm, followed by Lavale at 34.2mm and Lohegaon at 33.8mm. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shivajinagar registered 23.6mm of rainfall and Koregaon Park (KP) 5.5mm. The intense showers accompanied by thunder and lightning caused severe waterlogging in multiple areas across the city, further complicating the situation for residents and commuters. An IMD official explained the unusual monsoon-like pattern: "It's due to the setting of westerlies early this year. Global factors such as El Niño Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole are favourable for a good monsoon this year. These climate patterns are showing positive indicators that could lead to above-normal rainfall during the actual monsoon season." The official added: "The current thunderstorms are pre-monsoon showers because of moisture incursion from westerlies from the Arabian Sea." As per an India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, conditions are likely to become favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala during the next 4-5 days. The usual date for the onset over Kerala — which marks the beginning of the four-month-long southwest monsoon over the country — is June 1. For the next few days too, parts of Maharashtra are on a yellow and orange alert for rains. Pune city is likely to see moderate rainfall as well as thunder and lightning activity during the next few days. Abhijit Modak, an independent weather forecaster, explained why it feels like the monsoon in May itself. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This May has been quite unique. A strong Western Disturbance extended unusually far south, reaching into the Arabian Sea. This not only brought rainfall with it but also disrupted the typical quasi-stationary high-pressure system over the north to west-central Arabian Sea. Normally, this high-pressure system drives hot northerly and northwesterly winds from Gujarat and Rajasthan towards Maharashtra. " He said: "However, this pattern was disrupted by the strong Western Disturbance. Additionally, a recent Western Disturbance also drew moisture from the south, and the seasonal line of wind discontinuity further contributed to scattered thunderstorm activity across the region over the past 10 days.". Modak said the southwest monsoon has made an early onset, arriving about a week ahead of schedule over the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. "This early monsoon onset has intensified the east-west shear zone, contributing to the development of an upper air cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal. All indications suggest a wetter-than-usual May for the region." IMD has issued an orange alert for ghats of Pune, Kolhapur, and Satara districts as well as other parts of Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days. Several other districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha have been placed under yellow alert as intensifies across the region.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Pre-monsoon showers lash Pune, Shivajinagar gets 18.7mm rain
Pune: Several parts of the district received significant pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday, while most regions across Maharashtra did not report much rainfall, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lavale registered the highest rainfall in the district with 48.5 mm between Tuesday morning and evening (8:30 am to 5:30 pm), followed by Shivajinagar and Pashan with 18.7 mm and 17.1 mm, respectively. The 24-hour rainfall data ending Tuesday morning (8:30 am) showed Narayangaon receiving the highest precipitation at 54 mm. Other areas that received substantial rainfall included Dhamdhere (38.5 mm), Hadapsar (22.5 mm) and Daund (15 mm). Independent weather forecaster Abhijit Modak told TOI: "Line of wind discontinuity induced convergence patterns are likely to further enhance thunderstorm activity, a typical feature of pre-monsoon climatology. Monsoon officially advanced over the Nicobar Islands on Tuesday, its first landfall in Indian territory. As a result, pre-monsoon activity can pick up noticeably over the Sahyadri Ghats sections extending into the Deccan Maharashtra leeward region of Pune, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Sambhajinagar, Solapur to Kolhapur belt." He said: "This pattern of scattered thunderstorms could persist until around May 18. Overall, a hit-or-miss pattern of rainfall is expected to continue across Maharashtra, as the atmospheric dynamics have slightly shifted, now favoring the Ghats and leeward areas more than the coastal regions." A wind discontinuity occurs when winds from different directions or with different characteristics meet along a line, creating atmospheric instability, which can lead to convective showers. Temperature readings across Pune city and surrounding areas showed maximum temperatures hovering around 31-33°C, with minimum temperatures ranging from 21°C to 25°C. The weather department has forecast more such weather in the coming days. "Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) are expected at isolated places across Pune, ghats of Pune, Nashik, ghats of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara. A yellow warning has been issued for these regions," an IMD official added. Hadapsar registered 22.5 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, followed by an additional 3 mm by evening. Nearby Magarapatta received modest precipitation of 1.5 mm till early Tuesday morning. Pashan logged consistent rainfall with 11 mm until Tuesday morning and an additional 17.1 mm by evening. NDA registered 6 mm rainfall from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm on areas of the district witnessed substantial downpours, with Bhor and Dudulgaon each registering 14.5 mm between Tuesday morning and evening. Malin registered rainfall of 14 mm during the same period after recording minimal precipitation of 0.5 mm in the 24 hours ending Tuesday Several parts of the district received significant pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday, while most regions across Maharashtra did not report much rainfall, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed. Lavale registered the highest rainfall in the district with 48.5 mm between Tuesday morning and evening (8:30 am to 5:30 pm), followed by Shivajinagar and Pashan with 18.7 mm and 17.1 mm, respectively. The 24-hour rainfall data ending Tuesday morning (8:30 am) showed Narayangaon receiving the highest precipitation at 54 mm. Other areas that received substantial rainfall included Dhamdhere (38.5 mm), Hadapsar (22.5 mm) and Daund (15 mm). Independent weather forecaster Abhijit Modak told TOI: "Line of wind discontinuity induced convergence patterns are likely to further enhance thunderstorm activity, a typical feature of pre-monsoon climatology. Monsoon officially advanced over the Nicobar Islands on Tuesday, its first landfall in Indian territory. As a result, pre-monsoon activity can pick up noticeably over the Sahyadri Ghats sections extending into the Deccan Maharashtra leeward region of Pune, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Sambhajinagar, Solapur to Kolhapur belt." He said: "This pattern of scattered thunderstorms could persist until around May 18. Overall, a hit-or-miss pattern of rainfall is expected to continue across Maharashtra, as the atmospheric dynamics have slightly shifted, now favoring the Ghats and leeward areas more than the coastal regions." A wind discontinuity occurs when winds from different directions or with different characteristics meet along a line, creating atmospheric instability, which can lead to convective showers. Temperature readings across Pune city and surrounding areas showed maximum temperatures hovering around 31-33°C, with minimum temperatures ranging from 21°C to 25°C. The weather department has forecast more such weather in the coming days. "Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) are expected at isolated places across Pune, ghats of Pune, Nashik, ghats of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara. A yellow warning has been issued for these regions," an IMD official added. Hadapsar registered 22.5 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, followed by an additional 3 mm by evening. Nearby Magarapatta received modest precipitation of 1.5 mm till early Tuesday morning. Pashan logged consistent rainfall with 11 mm until Tuesday morning and an additional 17.1 mm by evening. NDA registered 6 mm rainfall from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm on areas of the district witnessed substantial downpours, with Bhor and Dudulgaon each registering 14.5 mm between Tuesday morning and evening. Malin registered rainfall of 14 mm during the same period after recording minimal precipitation of 0.5 mm in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning.
