Pune likely to get rain for two days, IMD issues yellow alert

A severe cyclonic storm, Murasu, in the Bay of Bengal and a cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea have created conditions for rain across Maharashtra, including Pune. Rain has been falling in the city and surrounding areas since Monday (the 2nd) night, bringing the maximum temperature down by eight to nine degrees Celsius. Parts of the city got rain in the morning and the sky stayed overcast through the day, keeping the air cool.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain in the city and surrounding areas for the next two days, along with thunder and lightning. A yellow alert has been issued for Pune. People have been asked to keep the weather forecast in mind while planning to step out.

On Monday the city recorded a maximum temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 21.2 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday the maximum is expected to be 26 degrees and the minimum 19 degrees Celsius. The sky will generally remain cloudy, and light to moderate rain is possible.

According to the weather department, the severe cyclonic storm Murasu is centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is moving west-northwest. In the east-central Arabian Sea, a cyclonic circulation lies near the Karnataka and south Maharashtra coast at 0.9 km above sea level. The subtropical westerly jet stream, which flows at a height of five to ten km, has also shifted southward, increasing moisture in the air. Because of these changes, rain is likely in Maharashtra over the next 24 hours.

Rainfall recorded at different places on Monday (in mm) was: Dhamdhere 43.0, Magarpatta 16.0, Haveli 13.0, Chinchwad 11.5, Shivajinagar 10.9, Pashan 7.8, NDA 7.0, Shirur 7.0, Ambegaon 6.0, Baramati 4.6 and Hadapsar 4.0.

The four dams of the Khadakwasla series together hold 23.47 TMC, or 80.52 per cent of capacity. At this time last year the stock was 28.40 TMC (97.41 per cent), about five TMC more than now. There was no fresh inflow into the four dams on Monday.

Dam-wise, Khadakwasla holds 1.12 TMC (56.82 per cent), Panshet 8.24 TMC (77.26 per cent), Varasgaon 10.95 TMC (85.41 per cent) and Temghar 3.14 TMC (84.63 per cent). So far, 19.05 TMC of water has been released from Khadakwasla dam through the spillway.