The IMD has also issued a short-term nowcast warning, predicting light spells of rain in Sangli and Kolhapur over the next three hours. Representational Pic
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a change in weather across Maharashtra, with dry conditions set to give way to thundershowers and gusty winds from midweek.
Dry weather is likely to persist over Mumbai and adjoining coastal districts on Tuesday. However, light rain and thundershowers are expected to return on March 18 and 19, before conditions turn dry again on March 20.
Mumbai, Thane and Palghar are expected to remain dry on Tuesday, with likely chances of light rain and thundershowers on Wednesday and Thursday as per the IMD.
Raigad and Ratnagiri may see thunderstorms with lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds of 30-40 kilometres per hour at isolated places during this period. Sindhudurg is also likely to receive light rain or thundershowers.
Districts such as Pune, Ahilyanagar, Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli are likely to witness light to moderate rain and thundershowers from March 18. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-50 kilometres per hour are expected at isolated places on March 18 and 19, with stronger gusts possible in ghat regions on March 19.
The IMD has also issued a short-term nowcast warning, predicting light spells of rain in Sangli and Kolhapur over the next three hours.
The alert, issued at 10 am, remains valid for three hours.
Several districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha have been placed under a yellow alert for thunderstorm activity.
Sholapur, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are likely to witness thunderstorms with lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds from March 18 onwards.
In Vidarbha, districts including Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha and Yavatmal may experience thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds up to 40-50 kilometres per hour and the possibility of hail on March 18 and 19.
IMD warning maps show a yellow alert across large parts of the state between March 18 and 20, with isolated red alert pockets in Vidarbha, indicating the potential for more intense weather activity in some areas.
