Pune Rains to Intensify in the Next 48 Hours; Ghats on Orange Alert
Pune: Maharashtra is likely to see an increase in rainfall over the next 48 hours, with intermittent rain and cloudy skies expected to mark Independence Day celebrations across several parts of the state, including Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur. IMD has issued an orange alert for the ghats on Wednesday, with heavy rain likely to continue in the hilly areas over the next few days.
The weather system is linked to the formation of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal around August 12. According to the weather outlook, strengthening westerly winds from the Arabian Sea is expected to increase moisture over Maharashtra, leading to a rise in rainfall activity.
For Pune, the ghats are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Wednesday, followed by an orange alert on August 14. A yellow alert has been issued for August 13 and August 15. Rainfall is expected to remain moderate in Pune city, with intermittent showers likely over the next few days.
The weather conditions are also expected to remain active over other parts of western Maharashtra. The ghats of Satara and Kolhapur are under yellow alerts for the next three days, with heavy rain possible in these areas.
Konkan and Mumbai are also expected to receive intermittent rainfall, with yellow alerts in place for the next three days. The increase in rainfall activity is likely to be more noticeable over the next 48 hours, while a marginal reduction in rainfall is expected from August 14.
The renewed rainfall comes as Maharashtra’s seasonal rainfall remains close to normal. Between June 1 and August 12, the state has recorded rainfall around 2% below its long-period average, while rainfall across India during the same period is 12% below normal.
The distribution of rainfall across Maharashtra, however, remains uneven. Data for June 1 to August 8 showed Madhya Maharashtra with rainfall 31% above normal, while Marathwada was 13% below normal and Vidarbha 15% below normal. Konkan recorded rainfall 3% below normal during the period.
The latest spell is expected to provide further rainfall over the state’s catchments and agricultural areas, particularly in western Maharashtra and the ghats. Pune city is likely to continue experiencing moderate rain even as heavier spells remain concentrated in the surrounding hill ranges.
Jayant Mahajan is a writer and contributor at PuneNow, covering the intersection of technology, climate action, and urban governance across Pune. With an extensive background in business management, digital transformation, and academia, Jayant brings real-world insight to local sustainability issues, from civic infrastructure to smart city data ethics. As an educator and founder of the Change Before Climate Change mission, he focuses on how Pune’s institutions and businesses can build future-ready, sustainable systems. Through his columns, Jayant bridges policy, technology, and practical action to help Punekars navigate a rapidly changing urban climate.
