Maharashtra is currently facing a prolonged dry spell that has left many reservoirs empty and farmers grappling with crop losses. The state has recorded only 787.2 mm of rain this season, well below the normal 953.2 mm, a shortfall the department attributes to the lingering effects of El Niño.
In response, the IMD released a series of weather alerts. A yellow alert was announced for September 23 covering districts such as Beed, Hingoli, Latur, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, Nashik, Ratnagiri and Satara. The following day, an orange alert was issued for Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Yavatmal, and on September 25 the orange alert expanded to include Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia and Bhandara.
The department forecasts “fairly widespread to widespread” rainfall over Konkan, Goa and Marathwada on September 23, followed by “isolated to scattered” showers in the same regions from September 24 to 28. Madhya Maharashtra is also expected to see scattered rain during the same period. Strong surface winds are likely over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on September 24‑25, with isolated thunderstorms predicted for north Konkan and north Madhya Maharashtra.
Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected in Latur, Dharashiv, Yavatmal, Nanded, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Gadchiroli and Gondia districts. Thunderstorms and rain are also forecast for Kolhapur, Sangli, Pune, Nashik, Satara, Solapur and Ahilyanagar.
Meteorologists note that a low‑pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a deep depression within the next 12 hours, with wind speeds potentially reaching 75 km/h. The southwest monsoon is projected to withdraw from the region by October 5.
State officials have warned that the impending rains could provide much‑needed relief to water‑starved dams, but they also cautioned residents in the alert zones to prepare for possible flooding and wind‑related damage.