After weeks of deficit, Pune reports excess rainfall in third week of August

The IMD has forecast that there would be a break in the showers now till August 25 after which heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the state.

Excess rainfall in the districts of Nanded, Hingoli and some parts of Marathwada also triggered flash floods over the last few days. Eight people were reported dead in Nanded after record rainfall of over 200 mm caused the Lendi barrage to overflow. Areas in Nanded reported 200-300 mm of rainfall, submerging three villages. The Ghat areas in Pune district were also under a ‘red’ alert. The sudden downpour had caused crop damage across over 20 lakh hectares in the state.

A week-by-week analysis shows that the monsoon has been active during most weeks with only four of the 12 weeks reporting a deficit and the remaining weeks witnessing good rainfall in Central Maharashtra, which includes Pune. Marathawada had seen six of the 12 weeks reporting a deficit while it was eight weeks in Vidarbha. Meanwhile, crops across the state have reported satisfactory growth.

Monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on May 25 this year, earlier than its usual onset, but was marked by periods of little to no rainfall.