Weather alert: Thundershowers expected in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar; IMD issues orange alert for parts of Maharashtra

Rainfall activity across Maharashtra is expected to increase till May 25. Representational Pic/PTI File

According to the recent weather report from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), an orange alert has been declared in various parts of Maharashtra.

An orange alert has been declared in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on May 23 and 24. This region is set to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty winds at a speed of 50 to 60 km/hr in isolated regions.

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According to the IMD's latest Mumbai weather alert, a cyclonic circulation was expected to develop over the Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast on May 21.

A low-pressure area is likely to form around May 22 over the east-central Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coast. As a result, rainfall activity across Maharashtra is expected to increase between May 19 and 25, particularly affecting Konkan and the ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra.

"Under the influence of upper air cyclonic circulation over East Central Arabian Sea, a low pressure area formed over East Central Arabian sea off south Konkan and Goa coasts at 5.30 am IST and persists over the same region at 8.30 am IST of today, the 22nd May 2025. It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify further into a depression during the next 36 hours," IMD stated in its latest Mumbai weather alert.

IMD has declared red alert in Ratnagiri for May 22 and 23. Likewise, Raigad is on red alert for May 23, both the cities will experiance extremely heavy rainfall and thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places.

The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, with extremely heavy rainfall expected in parts of Maharashtra including Pune, Thane, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur, Satara, Ratnagiri, Parbhani, Beed, Nanded, and Latur.

Impact expected

• Possibility of cloud-to-ground lightning at isolated places.
• Collapse of weak trees or weak structures due to gusty winds.
• Localised and short-term disruption of power.
• Damage to crops due to unseasonal rainfall.
• Strong wind/hail may damage plantation, horticulture, and standing crops.
• Minor damage to kutcha houses/walls and huts.

IMD has urged residents to take the following precautions:

• Avoid working in open areas and fields when thunderstorms are taking place.
• Avoid taking shelter under tall trees and structures when a thunderstorm is occurring.
• Unplug electrical/electronic appliances.
• Immediately get out of water bodies.
• Keep away from all objects that conduct electricity.

IMD advisory

• As there is a possibility of thunderstorm activity, accompanied by gusty winds (30 to 40 kmph), lightning, and light to moderate rainfall, matured crops should be harvested as early as possible and stored in safe places.
• Provide support to young fruit plants and vegetables to prevent lodging.
• If threshing is not possible, the harvested produce should be covered properly.
• For protection from untimely rains, the stored grains should be shifted to safe storage.
• Avoid irrigation and any kind of chemical spray.
• Make arrangements to drain out excess rainwater from the fields.
• Cattle should be kept in safe places in cattle sheds. Keep farm animals indoors during thunderstorms and lightning