Weather: Maharashtra will have to wait for widespread monsoon rainfall; red alert in Kerala
In Kerala, an orange alert is in place in six districts -- Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad -- and a yellow alert in the remaining three districts of the state for the day
Officials in Maharashtra indicate that widespread monsoon rainfall is unlikely before June 15, with subdued activity and slow advancement expected across the state, although the southwest monsoon has reached south Konkan, bringing moderate to heavy rain to Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri until June 9. Parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Madhya Maharashtra may see scattered thunderstorms and rain with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Vidarbha and Khandesh, prompting a warning to farmers about potential agricultural sowing impacts and advising citizens to exercise caution during thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Kerala is experiencing heavy showers, with the IMD issuing a red alert for five districts, leading to the prohibition of tourist trekking, night travel on hilly roads, and quarrying activities in affected areas.
Officials in Maharashtra indicate that widespread monsoon rainfall is unlikely before June 15, with subdued activity and slow advancement expected across the state, although the southwest monsoon has reached south Konkan, bringing moderate to heavy rain to Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri until June 9. Parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Madhya Maharashtra may see scattered thunderstorms and rain with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Vidarbha and Khandesh, prompting a warning to farmers about potential agricultural sowing impacts and advising citizens to exercise caution during thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Kerala is experiencing heavy showers, with the IMD issuing a red alert for five districts, leading to the prohibition of tourist trekking, night travel on hilly roads, and quarrying activities in affected areas.
Officials in Maharashtra indicate that widespread monsoon rainfall is unlikely before June 15, with subdued activity and slow advancement expected across the state, although the southwest monsoon has reached south Konkan, bringing moderate to heavy rain to Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri until June 9. Parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Madhya Maharashtra may see scattered thunderstorms and rain with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Vidarbha and Khandesh, prompting a warning to farmers about potential agricultural sowing impacts and advising citizens to exercise caution during thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Kerala is experiencing heavy showers, with the IMD issuing a red alert for five districts, leading to the prohibition of tourist trekking, night travel on hilly roads, and quarrying activities in affected areas.
Maharashtra is unlikely to witness widespread monsoon rainfall before Monday, June 15, officials said on Sunday. As per official weather forecasts, there is subdued rainfall activity and slow monsoon advancement across the state.
While the southwest monsoon has entered south Konkan, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to parts of the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts until Tuesday, June 9, the overall rainfall pattern across the state is expected to remain weak over the next week, the Maharashtra Agriculture and Disaster Management Department said.
According to the department, parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Madhya Maharashtra may experience cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms accompanied by rain during afternoon hours until at least June 15.
Temperatures in Vidarbha and Khandesh may cross the 40-degree Celsius mark, while Marathwada is expected to record temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius, it said. "The lack of continuous rainfall at this stage could impact early agricultural sowing, and farmers should plan accordingly to avoid crop losses," it added.
The advisory urged citizens to exercise caution during thunderstorms and lightning, advising them not to take shelter under trees, tin sheds, or near electrical transformers, poles, and power lines.
Elsewhere in Kerala, heavy showers continued to lash the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert in five districts — Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod — for Sunday.
A red alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall of between 6 cm and 11 cm. In view of the red alert, entry to tourist trekking spots and night travel on hilly roads, as well as quarrying activities, have been prohibited in the Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod districts for the day.