Rains in the city

Due to a cyclonic circulation in Central Maharashtra, city alongwith many parts of the state witnessed rains on Friday. The situation is expected to continue meaning in effect that city is to witness more rains in coming days.

Usually, the monsoon starts withdrawing from 1 September. The month of October is known for summer like heat. The weather in the city looked going on the track till yesterday with maximum temperature touching 33 degree celsius. But on Friday, the weather took another form and there were rains in many parts of the state like Marathwada and Central Maharashtra.

Medha Khole, director, India Meterological Department, Pune said, "The cyclonic circulation over east central Arabian sea off south Gujarat-north Maharashtra lies over Madhya Maharashtra and neighbourhood. Which is the reason for this unseasonal rain." In the last 24 hours, the city witnesse 7.2 mm of rains upto 5:30 PM.

According to Khole, the southwest monsoon withdrawal this year started since 29 September which is almost a month late than normal. The met department expects the rain to continue for three days.

Even though heavy rains are not normal after the withdrawal of monsoon, there have been many instance of rainfall exceeding the normal. Nine years ago, on 14 October 1999, Pune witnessed 200.5 mm rainfall. Last year also the withdrawal of monsoon was started on 30 September and was complete on 15 October. At that time, 3.2 mm rainfall was recorded.
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