Heavy rain in ghat sections likely, travel with caution: IMD

PUNE: Take adequate precautions, or better still avoid travelling through the ghat sections in Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra for the next two starting on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised.
The weather bureau has updated its heavy rain forecast to extremely heavy rain at isolated places in the ghats on Wednesday due to the strengthening of weather systems.
Konkan has been put on a red alert for rain on Thursday for district authorities to take action.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has sounded an alert for parts of the state as the heavy to very heavy spells may increase the volume and flow of the water in the west-flowing rivers and in the upper Krishna, upper Bhima and upper Godavari basins yet again.
Since most reservoirs are almost full, a standard operating procedure for release is needed with notification to downstream areas and lower riparian states.
Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather, IMD Pune told TOI that the upper air cyclonic circulation over east Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood is likely to come close to Vidarbha.
“Simultaneously, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over west-central Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast, a low pressure area is likely to form over the region during the next 24 hours. Subsequently, a trough runs from west-central Bay of Bengal to northwest Madhya Pradesh across East Madhya Pradesh. Though the upper air cyclonic circulation does not have much strength, its remnant is likely to merge with the low pressure system from Bay of Bengal over Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada by September 19,” he said.
This merging will enhance rainfall activity in the state, affecting all four sub-divisions of Konkan, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.
“Also, the westerly winds from the Arabian Sea are expected to get moderately strong and gradually, wind speed is also expected to increase. The isobars over the Arabian Sea will get moderately packed by Thursday and Friday which will aid the rain, making the monsoon vigorous in the state,” Kashyapi said.
Rainfall activity in Pune city picked up on Tuesday with light rains in the evening with Lohegaon and Shivajinagar recording 2mm rain each in nine hours. Moderate rain is expected Thursday and Friday.