Intense spells in parts of state today, light to moderate rain in city: IMD

Pune: Rainfall intensity is likely to ease from Tuesday, with a more significant decline likely from Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its forecast on Monday, cautioning against widespread heavy rainfall across large parts of Maharashtra over the next 24 hours, with the most intense activity expected along the Konkan coast and the Western Ghats.Heavy to very heavy rainfall continued across the district on Monday, with Chinchwad recording the highest cumulative rainfall at 338.5mm over the 36 hours ending 8.30pm on Monday, followed by Lohegaon (244.8mm) and Shivajinagar (164.2mm).IMD scientist SD Sanap said the ongoing rainfall activity was being driven by the combined influence of three weather systems. “A depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal and moved westwards strengthened the southwesterly monsoon flow.

In addition, an offshore trough along the west coast and an east-west shear zone around 21°N worked together to enhance rainfall over Mumbai, Pune and adjoining ghat regions,” he said.The scientist said strong monsoon winds rising over the Sahyadri ranges triggered persistent cloud formation and precipitation, resulting in prolonged and intense rainfall accumulation across the region.For Tuesday, the Met department has forecast generally overcast skies accompanied by light to moderate rainfall over Pune city.

A red warning, however, remains in effect for the Pune ghat areas, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations.Similarly, red alerts have been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall, isolated spells of extremely heavy rain and strong winds of 70-80kmph are likely. High tides will coincide with heavy downpours, significantly escalating the risk of severe urban waterlogging.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall also expected in the ghat areas of Nashik district, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 60-70kmph likely.Stations that recorded significant rainfall during 8.30am-to5.30pm on Monday included Girivan (119.5mm), Nimgiri (72mm), Bhor (69.5mm), Pashan (69mm), Dudulgaon (63mm), Dapodi (62.5mm), Shirur (58mm), Shivajinagar (53.2mm) and Rajgurunagar (50.5mm), IMD data showed. At 132mm, Chinchwad’s daytime rainfall exceeded that of Mumbai’s Santacruz, which registered 70mm during the same period.