The rain gods may bestow upon Nashik the much-anticipated pre-monsoon showers in the next 48 hours if the forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is anything to go by.
As per the predictions of IMD and other leading private companies, pre-monsoon activities will pick up pace from June 1 and many areas of Maharashtra, including the water-deficit Marathwada, will start receiving good rains and thunder showers by June 2.
The excruciating heat wave prevailing in the district for the past fortnight has left the residents desirous of rain relief.
“Pre-monsoon showers will continue over north Maharashtra till the arrival of monsoon somewhere in the second week of June,” said a senior official at the IMD office, Pune.
The maximum temperature in the city on Monday, meanwhile, remained stable at 36 degrees celsius, considered to be favourable for precipitation. Malegaon, Jalgaon and Dhule recorded maximum temperature of 40.6 degrees celsius, 40 degrees celsius, and 41 degrees celsius, respectively.
“While pre-monsoon showers will start lashing Konkan, western and central Maharashtra in the next 24 hours, Nashik may expect showers with the onset of June, the first month of the rainy season,” said R J Mankar, weather observer at Nifad observatory, near Nashik.
For the last two weeks, most parts of north Maharashtra are facing harsh weather conditions with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees celsius. But the temperatures will dip with the pre-monsoon expected to bring the much-needed relief.
“While the first week of June will bring scattered rains for Nashik, the city is set to receive good thunder showers from June 7 onwards. Monsoon will set in by June 14,” said Mankar. The intensity of the monsoon will increase after June 14. The city is set to receive the highest amount of rainfall in July this year.
