IMD issues orange, yellow alerts for heavy rain in Vidarbha, Marathwada
A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify rain across Maharashtra on September 24, with several districts under orange and yellow alerts.
Rain has eased in parts of Maharashtra, but the weather is set to turn again. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify rain in Vidarbha and Marathwada on September 24. Some districts may see heavy rain with thunder and lightning, prompting the weather department to issue yellow alerts for some areas and orange alerts for others.
Vidarbha is likely to see strong winds, thunder and lightning with rain, so a yellow alert has been issued for several parts of the region. East Vidarbha faces a higher chance of very heavy rain, so an orange alert, signalling caution, has been issued there.
Meanwhile, the monsoon has begun withdrawing from the state and the country. It has already withdrawn from the north-western part of the country. Cyclonic wind conditions have formed over Uttar Pradesh at a height of 1.5 to 3.1 km above sea level. A low-pressure belt has also formed from the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand due to the stormy system over the Bay of Bengal, while the low-pressure belt extending to the Arabian Sea has now weakened. These changing weather systems are expected to intensify rain further in parts of Maharashtra.
Given the likelihood of very heavy rain on September 24, an orange alert has been issued for Yavatmal, Nagpur, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts in Vidarbha. Heavy rain is also likely in Hingoli, Nanded, Wardha, Bhandara and Gondia districts. Rain with thunderstorms is expected in Jalna, Beed and Dharashiv. A yellow alert has been issued for the rest of Vidarbha and Marathwada, where rain with thunder and lightning is expected.
In the Konkan region, light rain is expected in Palghar, Thane, Mumbai and Raigad districts, meaning the intensity of rain will be relatively lower there. However, a yellow alert has been issued for Sindhudurg district, so people there need to watch for changing weather conditions.
In North Maharashtra, the weather is expected to remain dry in Dhule and Nandurbar districts. Nashik may see light rain with lightning, while the Nashik ghat areas may see light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning. Ahilyanagar may also see light rain with lightning.
In Western Maharashtra, the Pune, Pune ghat and Satara ghat areas are likely to see light to moderate rain with lightning, and a yellow alert has been issued for these areas. Sangli and Solapur districts may also see light rain with lightning.
A yellow alert has been issued for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Latur and Dharashiv districts in Marathwada, as these areas may see rain with thunder and lightning. Residents have been urged to take necessary precautions.
A yellow alert is in place for Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Gondia and Wardha districts in Vidarbha, while an orange alert has been issued for Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal and Chandrapur districts. Given the likelihood of very heavy rain in these areas, people have been advised to take special precautions. Overall, the weather will keep changing across different parts of the state on September 24, so residents should keep track of local weather department updates.
