Pune: Light to moderate showers have returned over the last couple of days, with several parts of the city and district recording rainfall through the day. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune is expected to receive light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers over the weekend, with a wet spell likely to continue in parts of Maharashtra on Sunday and Monday. Light to moderate rain or thunderstorms is also likely at many places with isolated heavy rainfall likely over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on Sunday and Monday. Very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan and Goa on both days, and over Madhya Maharashtra on Monday. Between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Saturday, Chinchwad recorded 28mm, followed by Lavale (12.5mm), Pashan (6.8mm), Magarpatta (5mm) and Haveli (4.5mm). Other locations like Girivan received 4.5mm of rainfall followed by Malin (4mm), Hadapsar (3.5mm), Talegaon (3.5mm), Daund (2.5mm) and Baramati (0.6mm). Shivajinagar, the IMD’s observatory, recorded just 0.7mm rainfall during the period. The district-wise IMD forecast suggested thunderstorms with lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds (30–40kmph) at isolated places in Pune till Sunday. The ghats of Pune and Kolhapur are expected to receive heavier spells, with “heavy to very heavy rainfall” accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning likely in ghat areas on Monday. Thane, Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad too have been warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places on Sunday and Monday, while Konkan districts may see downpour. According to IMD, the wet spell is being driven by a low-pressure area persisting over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coasts, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8km above mean sea level. “The system is likely to move west-northwestwards across south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh and south Chhattisgarh during the next one days,” IMD said. The Met department said a trough associated with this system extended across Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha and up to south Maharashtra, which was likely to enhance rainfall activity across the state till Monday.
