02 September,2026 10:24 AM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Pedestrians enjoy a peaceful afternoon at Marine Drive. Pics/Ashish Raje
After a largely dry August, Maharashtra is likely to receive below-normal rainfall in September, raising concerns over water availability and agricultural conditions, particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.
The IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall for state during September. Marathwada, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, and Konkan regions are expected to remain vulnerable to rainfall deficiency.
Maximum temperatures could remain above normal in Marathwada and Vidarbha, while minimum temperatures may be higher than normal in Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra.
[popcorn number="1972" desc="Year when Pune recorded its driest August at 12.4 mm of rainfall" class="Default"]
Maharashtra recorded 40 per cent above-normal rainfall in July, but the situation changed sharply in August, when the state received 46 per cent less rainfall than the monthly average. No district in the state achieved its normal August rainfall. From June 1 to August 31, Maharashtra recorded rainfall 12 per cent below normal. At the end of July, the state had recorded rainfall six per cent above normal.
SD Sanap, senior scientist, IMD
Among the meteorological subdivisions, Konkan-Goa recorded an eight per cent deficit, while Madhya Maharashtra was two per cent above normal. Marathwada recorded a 30 per cent deficit, while Vidarbha also witnessed a significant shortfall.
The IMD attributed the poor August rainfall partly to the movement of low-pressure systems. The systems did not progress sufficiently towards Gujarat and Rajasthan, depriving central and western parts of the country, including Maharashtra, of their influence. At the national level, August rainfall was 16.3 per cent below normal, while central India recorded a deficit of around 16.2 per cent.
As of August 31, 17 districts had recorded deficient rainfall, defined as 20 to 59 per cent below normal: Sindhudurg, Nandurbar, Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Jalna, Beed, Dharashiv, Parbhani, Latur, Hingoli, Nanded, Washim, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Nagpur and Chandrapur.
Only three districts - Palghar, Pune and Nashik - recorded excess rainfall, defined as 20 to 59 per cent above normal. Sixteen districts, including Thane, Mumbai City, Dhule, Jalgaon and Satara, received rainfall within the normal range: 19 per cent above or below normal.
While the district received excess rainfall during the monsoon season, August remained unusually dry. According to Sanap, Pune's driest August on record was in 1972, when only 12.4 mm of rainfall was recorded. The most recent notably dry August was in 2015, when the city received just 24.7 mm. The coming weeks could see continuation of dry conditions.
SD Sanap, senior scientist, IMD,
"Though Pune broke century rainfall records during the monsoon season, the situation has been different in August. September is also likely to remain relatively dry." The IMD has predicted isolated rainfall in parts of the state on September 4, 5 and 6, but no warning has been issued for these days.
