The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday forecast light rain in Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, while warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds and isolated hail across several parts of Maharashtra.
According to a bulletin issued at 12.59 pm, light rain is very likely in Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar on Friday. Light rain or thundershowers are also expected in Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts.
According to IMD Mumbai, the maximum temperature recorded on Friday was 32.2 degrees Celsius at Colaba and 32.8 degrees Celsius at Santacruz, with no rainfall reported at either station.
Meanwhile, more intense weather activity has been predicted in other regions of the state.
In north Maharashtra, Dhule and Nandurbar are likely to witness thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds reaching 50–60 kilometre per hour (kmph) and hail at isolated places. Similar conditions, though with slightly lower wind speeds of 30–60 kmph, are expected in Jalgaon, Nashik, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Pune, Satara, Sangli, and Solapur, along with light to moderate rainfall in some areas.
Across the Marathwada region, including Beed, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, and Dharashiv, thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds of up to 50–60 kmph and isolated hail have been forecast.
In Vidarbha, districts such as Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal are expected to experience thunderstorm activity with lightning and gusty winds of 30–50 kmph at isolated places.
IMD flags lightning, wind damage risks, issues safety, and farm advisories
IMD has indicated that weather conditions are likely to turn mainly dry across most districts from Sunday onwards.
The department has warned of possible impacts, including cloud-to-ground lightning, falling of weak trees or structures due to strong winds, localised power disruptions, and damage to standing crops, plantations, and horticulture due to hail and gusty winds. Minor damage to kutcha houses is also possible.
IMD has appealed to residents to avoid open fields during thunderstorms, refrain from taking shelter under trees, unplug electrical appliances, and stay away from water bodies and conductive objects.
Farmers have been urged to harvest matured crops at the earliest and store them safely, provide support to young plants, avoid irrigation and spraying, and ensure proper drainage in fields.
Livestock should be kept indoors during adverse weather conditions, the weather bureau said.
The ongoing spell of pre-monsoon activity is expected to bring some relief from rising temperatures in parts of the state.
