After a hiatus of nearly two weeks, the southwest monsoon is poised to make a comeback in Maharashtra, bringing with it the promise of much-needed rainfall across various regions of the state. The pause in monsoon activity has raised concerns in the agricultural sector, and this prolonged break is marking one of the lengthiest hiatuses on record. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning in specific areas, while Pune district is anticipated to witness cloudy skies with a likelihood of light rainfall.
Having taken a pause since the start of August, weather experts had cautioned about an extended break and a gradual resurgence in the latter part of the month. As projected, signs of monsoon revival in Maharashtra are now evident within the next 24 hours.
Vaishali Khobragade, a meteorologist from the weather forecasting division at IMD Pune, explained that the monsoon trough, previously situated near the Himalayan foothills, has shifted southwards. She elaborated, “Furthermore, there are indications of a low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal, which should lead to the revival of the monsoon. Active monsoon conditions are expected to resume across most parts of Maharashtra starting August 17.”
Anupam Kashyapi, the head of the weather forecasting division at IMD Pune, added, “From August 17, there will be a partial revival of the monsoon in Maharashtra. The intensity of rainfall will gradually increase, particularly over the Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Konkan regions. A yellow alert has been declared for these areas due to the possibility of thunder and lightning. Isolated heavy rains could also occur around August 18 or 19.”
This year’s monsoon had a delayed onset and, after a month of active precipitation, entered a recess. A period of over 10 days of monsoon inactivity across Maharashtra has raised concerns, particularly within the agricultural sphere. According to meteorological experts, the current monsoon break is shaping up to be one of the most extended pauses on record.
Madhavan Rajeevan, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), remarked, “This ongoing monsoon break is one of the lengthiest spells on record. It has already spanned 10 days, and this trend is projected to persist for another two to three days. The longest ‘consecutive’ break occurred from July 18 to August 3 in 1972, a year with deficient monsoon activity. In July 2002, there were at least 24 consecutive break days.”
For Pune district, the IMD’s predictions suggest a different story. While a monsoon resurgence is projected for Maharashtra as a whole, the weather agency has not issued any warnings for Pune district. “Over the next few days, Pune city is likely to witness mainly cloudy conditions. There is a possibility of light rainfall during afternoons or evenings in the city and its vicinity,” Khobragade clarified.
As the monsoon prepares to make its return, Maharashtra’s residents and agricultural stakeholders are cautiously hopeful for a much-needed boost in precipitation to alleviate water scarcity and foster agricultural growth.
