Monsoon to revive, expect moderate showers in Pune

PUNE: Breaking its dry spell for over 10 days, the monsoon is likely to revive from Friday, bringing heavy to very heavy showers over Konkan and heavy rainfall in isolated places in Marathwada and the ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra, including Pune.
This spell is likely to last for several days, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials told TOI on Wednesday. They attributed the rain revival to the westerly winds picking up strength from Friday (August 5), bringing in more moisture from the Arabian Sea.
The IMD said Pune was expected to get moderate rainfall. "Monsoon will be active to vigorous once again in Maharashtra very soon," the weather forecasting agency said.
Anupam Kashyapi, head of the weather forecasting division, IMD, Pune, told TOI, "There are very likely chances of formation of an upper a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, off Odisha coast and neighbourhood. Under the influence of this system, a low-pressure area may form gradually. The subsequent movement of this low-pressure area will be northwest or west northwestward."
Kashyapi said in addition to this system, the westerly winds blowing from the Arabian Sea are likely to strengthen, aiding the monsoon's revival. "The upcoming spell of widespread rainfall over parts of Maharashtra is likely to be a long one, starting from August 4 evening and continuing till almost around August 10-11. Initially the rain will be concentrated over Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra mainly, but gradually, the moisture from Arabian Sea will travel to the northern parts of Maharashtra, that is, Vidarbha, north-central Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, causing some good spells even in those regions."
Thus, the likely westnorthwest or northwest movement of the system will give widespread rain to north central parts of the state, including Pune.
He said the city was likely to receive moderate rainfall during the next few days, but heavy spells in isolated areas of the city cannot be ruled out.
Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in the ghat areas of Pune, Kolhapur, Satara have been forecast from August 5-7, with a possibility of isolated heavy/very heavy rainfall in Konkan's Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts during August 5-7.
On Wednesday evening, Pune district/city was under cloud cover, followed by a thunderstorm activity. Kashyapi said, "City would see overcast skies and moderate rain during August 5-7. Initially, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon will become stronger (with strengthening of westerlies). Gradually, both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches of the monsoon current (with the formation of a system over Bay of Bengal, followed by its movement) are very likely to become stronger. This will make monsoon active to vigorous over the state," he said.