Pune and its surrounding regions have reported rains and thundershowers from Wednesday evening, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding the showers will continue for the next four days.
Almost 85 per cent of the country has reported rains and thundershowers due to a new Western Disturbance from Afghanistan and a cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan. Meanwhile, Maharashtra has reported damage to over 38,664 hectares of standing crops, the tally of which is expected to rise as rains continue. Crops like wheat, grape, mango, cashew, onion, and gram were among those that sustained damage.
Last week, IMD officials said that the combined effect of the Western Disturbance (moisture-carrying wind from the Mediterranean Sea) in the north along with a cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan, and another cyclonic circulation over northeast Rajasthan will bring light to medium rainfall. A trough (a low-pressure area) has been created from Bangladesh to north coastal Andhra Pradesh and another one from Tamil Nadu to the Konkan coast because of the above circulation. Moisture-carrying winds from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea have thus ingressed into the systems.
Dr Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather forecasting at IMD, said many parts of the country will see rains, thundershowers, and lightning in the next four days. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan would report light to moderate rainfall till March 20, with hail also being expected in some areas.
Similarly, hailstorms, gusty winds, and thundershowers are expected in Maharashtra, Vidharbha, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and Gujarat till March 19. Other parts of the country have been predicted to receive similar rains, thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and hailstorms. Pune alone recorded 3 mm of rainfall till 6.13 pm on Thursday. The maximum temperature recorded in Pune was 32.5 and the minimum temperature was 19.7 degree Celsius.
