Heavy to Very Heavy Rain Likely: Pune Ghats on Red Alert, Coastal Maharashtra on Orange Alert as Monsoon Strengthens
Heavy to Very Heavy Rain Likely: Pune Ghats on Red Alert, Coastal Maharashtra on Orange Alert as Monsoon Strengthens
The southwest monsoon is strengthening across Maharashtra, bringing significant rainfall especially to the ghat regions of Pune and surrounding districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for parts of the Pune and Nashik ghats, warning of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations over the next 48 hours. Following this period, the alert is expected to be downgraded to orange, with slightly reduced intensity.
The coastal districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg have also been placed under an orange alert, signaling the possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at scattered spots. Meanwhile, interior areas including parts of Jalgaon and Nashik are under a yellow alert, forecasting moderate showers along with occasional thunder and lightning over the next two to three days.
Rain activity in Pune district has already increased. On Friday, Shirgaon recorded 160mm of rain, falling into the ‘very heavy’ category. Ambona followed with 154mm, and Davdi received 127mm. According to IMD criteria, rainfall above 115.5mm qualifies as very heavy, while more than 204.4mm is classified as extremely heavy.
Other significant rainfall figures came from Lonavla (101mm), Dongerwadi (99mm), Bhira (79mm), Walwhan (77mm), and Tamhini (75mm). The Mulshi region saw moderate to heavy showers, including 73mm at the camp area and 68mm at the bungalow zone. Moderate rainfall was also reported in Khopoli (54mm), Kundle (45mm), Bhivpuri (42mm), Khand (39mm), and Nilshi (37mm).
In contrast, Pune’s central urban areas saw only light rain. Stations like Dudulgaon recorded 9mm, Lavale 6.5mm, Pashan and Narayangaon just 1mm each, while Dapodi, Shivajinagar, and Baramati registered less than 1mm.
Looking ahead, the IMD has kept Pune’s ghat areas under an orange alert from June 28 to July 1, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall during this period. Conditions are expected to ease slightly between July 2 and 4, during which a yellow alert has been issued, although intermittent showers will likely continue.
Elsewhere, Palghar district could experience localized heavy to very heavy rainfall. In Mumbai, moderate to heavy rain is forecast to persist, impacting daily life and commutes. Data from Friday showed Colaba in Mumbai receiving 20mm of rain, while Matheran in Raigad saw 30mm.
In Vidarbha, Yavatmal recorded 20mm of rain as the monsoon continues to advance, and Mahabaleshwar in Satara measured 30mm after 8:30am on Friday.
Anupam Kashyapi, former head of weather forecasting at IMD Pune, noted that orange alerts remain in effect for coastal districts and ghat areas of Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, and Nashik, while light to moderate rain is expected in Pune city itself. He also highlighted widespread showers across Konkan and parts of Vidarbha.
The broader IMD forecast indicates persistent heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places across Konkan, Goa, and the ghat sections of Madhya Maharashtra over the coming week, while most other regions can expect light to moderate showers.
