The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and several other districts in Maharashtra, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next four to five days. The alert, which signals the potential for significant disruption, has urged residents to prepare for possible flooding in low-lying areas.
The orange alert, which indicates expected rainfall exceeding 64.5 mm in 24 hours, is in effect for the districts of Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, and Ratnagiri starting from today, August 24. The IMD has advised citizens in these areas to remain cautious, as heavy rainfall is likely to impact daily life.
In an SMS alert sent out by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Saturday morning, residents of Mumbai and its suburbs were specifically warned of impending heavy rainfall in the next three to four hours. The alert emphasized the importance of vigilance during this period of intense weather.
The IMD has also extended its orange alert to include the Pune and Satara districts in western Maharashtra, as well as Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Gondia districts in the Vidarbha region for today. A yellow alert, indicating thunderstorms with lightning, light-to-moderate rainfall, and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, has been issued for several other districts across the state, excluding parts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada.
The heavy rainfall forecast is attributed to a low-pressure area over northern parts of West Bengal and adjoining areas of northeast Jharkhand, coupled with another low-pressure system over the east-central Arabian Sea off the Maharashtra coast. These weather systems are expected to bring rain to most parts of Maharashtra within the next 48 hours, according to an IMD scientist.
The orange alert for Konkan and western Maharashtra is set to continue through August 25 and 26, with the IMD advising residents to remain prepared for further heavy rainfall during this period.
Authorities have been urged to take necessary precautions to minimize the impact of the anticipated heavy rains, particularly in flood-prone and low-lying areas. Citizens are advised to stay informed through official channels and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall.
Sources By Agencies