Maharashtra Set for Earliest Monsoon in 12 Years as Pune Continues to See Rainfall
Maharashtra Set for Earliest Monsoon in 12 Years as Pune Continues to See Rainfall
IMD officials suggest early onset due to sustained rainfall patterns in neighboring regions
Pune and other parts of Maharashtra could witness an early arrival of the southwest monsoon this year. Although the usual onset in the state occurs after June 5, meteorologists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) emphasize that the declaration depends not just on local showers but on a broader and sustained rainfall pattern across adjoining areas.
Experts explained that for the monsoon to be officially declared over Maharashtra, rainfall must consistently advance through interconnected regions such as Northeast India, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and the Western Ghats. This ensures the activity isn’t limited to pre-monsoon anomalies but reflects genuine monsoonal progress.
“This is the earliest monsoon advance in years for Maharashtra, similar to Kerala, where the monsoon set in on Saturday – eight days ahead of the normal onset date,” IMD-Pune scientist S D Sanap said.
According to the standard schedule, the monsoon typically reaches Goa by June 5 and then sweeps across Maharashtra by June 15. However, current forecasts suggest Goa could experience full coverage within a couple of days, implying a potential early onset in Maharashtra as well.
Pune district continued to experience pre-monsoon showers on Saturday, with the IMD forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall for Sunday and Monday. Between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on Saturday, Baramati recorded the highest rainfall at 13.2 mm, followed by Haveli (13.0 mm), and Hadapsar and Bhor (10.5 mm each). Other areas such as Wadgaonsheri (8.5 mm), Pashan (7.6 mm), Dhamdhere (5.5 mm), and Lavasa (5.0 mm) also received rain. NDA and Dudulgaon recorded 3.0 mm each, while Shivajinagar saw 2.7 mm.
Widespread rainfall was also reported across Maharashtra, with heavy showers lashing parts of Pune and coastal regions. In the 24-hour period ending Saturday morning, Devgad and Gaganbavda recorded 100 mm, while Kankavli received a notable 130 mm. IMD officials attributed the rainfall to the prevailing depression over the east-central Arabian Sea and adjoining south Konkan coast.
In contrast, Mumbai has remained mostly dry, with only brief, scattered rainfall observed. Independent weather forecasters attributed this to prevailing easterlies and a lack of strong westerly winds that typically support sustained rain in coastal areas like Mumbai.
Meanwhile, meteorological data indicate that a depression is currently crossing the south Konkan coast near Ratnagiri. It is expected to move eastward across Madhya Maharashtra and gradually weaken into a low-pressure system. A trough extending from the east-central Arabian Sea to southern Chhattisgarh is also influencing weather conditions, contributing to rainfall in the region.
If these developments persist, the official declaration of monsoon onset in Maharashtra may be made sooner than expected, particularly if the systems maintain their momentum across central and western zones of the state.
