Rain likely in Konkan, Ghatmatha from October 18 as weather systems form over Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea

Although the south-west monsoon has fully withdrawn from the country, the threat of rain has not yet passed. Possible weather changes over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea have raised the prospect of rain and strong winds in several states.

Signs of a change are also visible in Maharashtra's weather. Rain may intensify in the coastal areas of Konkan, the Ghatmatha region and parts of Central Maharashtra. Mumbai and Thane, on the other hand, may face hot and humid conditions. People will need to keep track of the latest forecasts from the weather department.

According to the forecast, cyclonic winds are likely to develop between October 22 and 28 over the south-east Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Andaman Sea. Under the influence of this system, a low-pressure area may form over the Bay of Bengal in the middle of the week. How the rain behaves afterwards will depend on the intensity and direction of the system.

Meanwhile, there are also indications of cyclonic winds developing over the south-east Arabian Sea and the adjoining Lakshadweep area. These developments over the two seas are expected to intensify rain in some southern states.

Rain is expected to become active again in parts of Maharashtra from October 18. Thunderstorms with rain have been forecast particularly for the Konkan districts of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Palghar. Wind speeds in some areas may reach 30 to 60 kilometres per hour. Sindhudurg district may receive heavy rain with strong winds, while parts of Ghatmatha and Central Maharashtra may also see torrential rain. Farmers, fishermen and travellers should therefore pay attention to local weather updates.

The effects of heat and humidity may be felt in Mumbai and Thane. Even after the monsoon's end, the state may see a contrasting picture, with rain in some places and heat in others.

In north-west India, the weather may change under the influence of a western disturbance. Rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms have been forecast for parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Wind speeds in some places may reach 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.

In south India, heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast for the next few days in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and south interior Karnataka. People in these states should follow the official advisories of the weather department.

With the coming winter in view, weather experts are also watching the El Nino situation. Changes in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean can affect weather across the world. According to the information given, minimum temperatures in Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and south Madhya Pradesh may remain 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal for the next few days.

With the threat of rain and strong winds on one hand and rising temperatures on the other, the country's weather may swing between the two. For the final word on any cyclone or extremely heavy rain, the latest official bulletin of the India Meteorological Department should be consulted.

Temperature forecast for the next 10 days (maximum and minimum, in degrees Celsius): October 17, Saturday, 36 and 26. October 18, Sunday, 36 and 28. October 19, Monday, 37 and 28. October 20, Tuesday, 35 and 27. October 21, Wednesday, 37 and 28. October 22, Thursday, 37 and 28. October 23, Friday, 35 and 26. October 24, Saturday, 35 and 27. October 25, Sunday, 37 and 28. October 26, Monday, 36 and 28.