Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are on red alert today as pre-monsoon showers lash several regions of Southern India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned against extremely heavy rainfall in these regions and has issued an orange alert for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
IMD in its latest weather bulletin states, “Fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph with heavy rainfall at a few places with very heavy & extremely rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kerala & Mahe on 27th May and heavy to very heavy rainfall thereafter during 28th May-01st June.”
The weather agency in its press release dated May 26 further notes possibility of heavy downpour in Karnataka and states, “Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Coastal & South Interior Karnataka on 27th May and heavy to very heavy rainfall thereafter during 28th May-01st June and heavy to very heavy rainfall over North Interior Karnataka during 26th-30th May.”
On May 26, heavy rains lashed Mumbai as the monsoon arrived 16 days before of its usual onset. This marks monsoon’s earliest arrival in 19 years.