Pune: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, hail and lightning in several districts, mainly in Marathwada and Vidarbha, which could provide some respite from heat in these areas. Districts like Nanded, Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Wardha, Gadchiroli among others are on a yellow and orange alert, with IMD indicating possibility of cloud to ground lightning at isolated places, weak trees or weak structures falling due to gusty winds and localisd and short-term disruption of power.
Parts of Madhya Maharashtra,including Pune, however, do not have a pre-monsoon showers forecast so far. IMD has also predicted slightly lower day temperatures in comparison to the past few days in most of Maharashtra expect Konkan for around a week, but the heat is expected to persist as maximum temperatures may only be slightly lower. District-wise forecasts on Thursday indicated that Parbhani, Hingoli, and Nanded are expected to witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 km/h at isolated places. Amaravati faces a similar risk, with warnings of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning likely to occur at isolated places. Districts such as Buldhana, chandrapur, Gondia, Wardha could see thundershowers and gusty winds of up to 50-60 km/h, according to IMD’s Regional Meteorological Center’s, Mumbai latest bulletin.
On Thursday, March 20, daytime temperatures across Pune and surrounding regions showed a marginal decline, largely attributed to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon, according to observations from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather bulletin for Pune (Shivajinagar) showed a maximum temperature of 36.5°C, 0.2°C higher than normal, while the minimum temperature was 17.5°C, 1°C above normal. Other stations in the region recorded similar temperatures: Lohegaon (39.2°C), Chinchwad (36.4°C), Lavale (36.1°C), Magarpatta (37.8°C), and KP (37.2°C). The highest maximum temperature in Maharashtra was recorded in Washim (Vidarbha) at 40.4°C, while the lowest minimum was in Pune at 17.5°C.
SD Sanap, a scientist at IMD Pune, told TOI that the slight drop in daytime temperatures compared to last week is due to partly cloudy skies, which have been observed in the afternoon and late evening. These clouds have provided some relief by reducing direct solar radiation, leading to a marginal cooling effect. However, Sanap said that the summer feel is expected to persist, with daytime temperatures likely to remain in a similar range—around 36°C to 37°C—over the next few days. “So far, there is no rain forecast for Pune,” Sanap added, explaining that the moisture levels in the region are currently insufficient to trigger light pre-monsoon showers in the city or district.
“In contrast, Marathwada and Vidarbha are expected to see rainfall due to an easterly wind flow from the Bay of Bengal, driven by a cyclonic circulation over the bay. These winds are bringing in moisture to these regions, where daytime temperatures are already high, ranging between 39°C and 40°C, as seen in stations like Akola (40.0°C), Wardha (40.0°C), and Washim (40.4°C). When moisture is present in the atmosphere and coupled with such high temperatures, it creates favourable conditions for thunderstorms and convective rainfall. The heat causes the moist air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, releasing latent heat that further fuels the upward motion, often resulting in intense, localized thunderstorms and rainfall. This convective activity is typical in pre-monsoon conditions when high temperatures and moisture interact.