Yellow alert for six Vidarbha districts on November 1 as IMD forecasts thunderstorms and strong winds

After a October of alternating harsh sun, rain and humid weather, the weather in Maharashtra may change again at the start of November. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a district-wise forecast for November 1. It says the weather will stay dry across most of the Konkan, but thunderstorms are forecast in some districts of western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.

Lightning and winds of 30 to 40 km/h are also likely in some areas. Residents and farmers have been urged to stay alert.

In the Konkan, the weather is expected to remain largely dry on November 1 in Palghar, Thane, Mumbai and Raigad districts, giving people there respite from rain. Light drizzle is possible in Ratnagiri district, while thunderstorms are forecast in Sindhudurg district. The weather will not be uniform across the Konkan.

Conditions may turn favourable for rain in some districts of western Maharashtra. Thundershowers are possible in Pune district and the Pune ghat area. Rain is also forecast in Kolhapur district and parts of the ghat areas. Satara and Sangli districts also remain likely to see rain. Solapur district is expected to stay dry. People in western Maharashtra should keep an eye on the local forecast when planning travel.

In north Maharashtra, the weather may stay dry in Dhule, Nandurbar and Jalgaon districts. Light rain is forecast in Nashik, the Nashik ghat area and Ahilyanagar districts. A fall in the minimum temperature may make nights feel cooler, so day and night temperatures may differ noticeably.

In Marathwada, the weather is likely to stay dry in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed and Hingoli districts. Thundershowers are possible in Latur and Dharashiv districts. Nanded district is also expected to stay dry.

A rain warning has been issued for some districts of Vidarbha. Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur and Yavatmal, six districts in all, may see stormy rain with thunder. Lightning is possible in some places, and winds may blow at 30 to 40 km/h. A yellow alert has been issued for these areas in view of the likely weather. No warning has been issued for Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha and Washim districts for November 1.

Given the possibility of unseasonal rain, farmers need to take special precautions. Crops that are ready for harvest should be moved to a safe place as soon as possible. Harvested grain and other farm produce should be protected from the rain. People should avoid working in the fields during stormy rain or lightning, and should not shelter under trees as protection from lightning. Residents and farmers should follow the latest IMD updates as the weather changes.

A temperature forecast for the next 10 days has also been issued. On Monday, November 2, the maximum temperature will be 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum 27 degrees. On Tuesday, November 3, the maximum is forecast at 36 and the minimum at 26 degrees. On Wednesday, November 4, the maximum will be 36 and the minimum 27 degrees. On Thursday, November 5, the maximum will be 36 and the minimum 26 degrees, while on Friday, November 6, they will be 36 and 27 degrees.

On Saturday, November 7, the maximum temperature is forecast at 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 25 degrees. On Sunday, November 8, the maximum will be 37 and the minimum 26 degrees. On Monday, November 9, the maximum will be 37 and the minimum 25 degrees, and on Tuesday, November 10, it will again be 37 and 25 degrees. On Wednesday, November 11, the maximum is forecast at 36 and the minimum at 26 degrees Celsius.