Konkan wettest place as 31 spots get triple digit rains

PUNE: The Konkan region in Maharashtra was the wettest place in the country on Wednesday with a whopping 31 locations receiving triple digit rains. Konkan, along with Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha, recorded heavy to very heavy rains in 52 locations from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In the Konkan region, Khalapur, Mangaon, Roha, Uran, Thane, Murud, Bhira, Mhasla, Tala, Thane-Belapur, Bhiwandi, Colaba and Santacruz were the rainiest places till Wednesday morning.In Madhya Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar, Paud, Mulshi and Gaganbawada got the highest rain. In Vidarbha, Bhamragad and Chamorshi recorded heavy to very heavy rains.

Tourists have been advised to stay off ghat areas and beaches till Friday morning.
Though rain in parts of the state is likely to reduce by Thursday evening, Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra have not been taken off the warning for heavy rains even on Friday. On Thursday, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in a few places in districts like Palghar, Thane, Mumbai and Raigad and at isolated places in Ratnagiri and the ghats of Pune, Nashik and Satara districts.
In fact, the ghats of Pune and Satara will stay on heavy rain warning till Sunday, IMD officials said.
Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather, IMD, Pune, told TOI, “Several weather conditions are contributing to the heavy rains, including the monsoon trough tilting southwards, the offshore trough over the Arabian Sea off the coast of north Maharashtra and the Kerala coast, and an east-west shear zone influencing rains over north Konkan and north and central Madhya Maharashtra.”
Moreover, strong westerly winds from the Arabian Sea are inducing rains in the state. “Winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph are prevailing over the Arabian Sea off the Maharashtra and Goa coast. These winds drag significant moisture over Konkan-Goa and north and central Madhya Maharashtra,” Kashyapi said.
The rains will begin reducing from Thursday afternoon, though the heavy rain warning for Konkan and the ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra may continue.
Kashyapi said tourists should avoid the ghat areas of Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra till Friday morning.