Widespread rainfall expected by June 12

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in its forecast, confirmed that by June 12, Konkan, Central Maharashtra and Marathwada regions would witness widespread rainfall, marking the arrival of the monsoon in the state.

The 14 rainfall-monitoring stations across Kerala reported widespread rainfall for the last 48 hours, and more than 60 per cent of stations indicated the arrival of southwest monsoon in southern India on June 8. Usually, Maharashtra receives rainfall a week after Kerala.

The ongoing rainfall across the 14 stations which dictate that the rainfall criteria for the monsoon is met when 2.5 mm of rain is recorded for two consecutive days in over 60 per cent of these stations. On Wednesday, a weather report of IMD officials indicated that the Southwest monsoon has further advanced over many parts of the south Arabian Sea, the Maldives, Comorin area, most parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, some parts of south interior Karnataka, southern parts the Bay of Bengal and some more parts of central Bay of Bengal. The officials further confirmed that conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over these regions, during next 48 hours.

Experts added that there would be no significant change in maximum temperatures over northwest and central India during the next 48-72 hours. At the same time, a few places of peninsular India will continue to witness rains and thunderstorms.

In the June 8 report of IMD, the weather bureau, focusing on the probable rainfall in Maharashtra, confirmed that from June 8- 12, conditions would change from isolated rainfall to widespread rains across the state. The Konkan region is witnessing fairly widespread rainfall, and it is set to experience an extensive arrival of monsoon within four days.