Pune: Maharashtra, particularly the Konkan region, is likely to witness continued heavy rainfall over the next few days as a developing weather system over the Arabian Sea intensifies, IMD said on Wednesday. An upper air cyclonic circulation, currently extending up to mid-tropospheric level over the east-central Arabian Sea off north Karnataka-Goa coasts, was expected to transform into a low-pressure area by Thursday, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast stated. The system was projected to move northwards and further intensify into a depression by Friday, IMD said. "Though a low-pressure area may form over the Arabian Sea, the higher impact will be felt in north Konkan and not much in the interiors.

We are in the wait-and-watch mode," an IMD official told TOI. The weather department has forecast fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra,and Marathwada from May 21-25. Gujarat is expected to experience scattered to fairly widespread rainfall during the same period.

Particularly severe conditions are expected over Konkan and Goa, Gujarat and Madhya Maharashtra between May 21 and 23, with thundersquall wind speeds potentially reaching 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph. Pune city has been placed under an orange alert for the next two days, with forecasts indicating "thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) along with moderate to heavy rain". The official said: "Thursday and Friday are likely to see thundershowers even in Pune city, after which the activity will reduce for both Pune and Maharashtra as a whole. We have, however, not ruled out a heavy spell for isolated areas in Pune over the next couple of days." IMD has issued warnings for the ghat sections in Pune, Kolhapur and Satara, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph at isolated places.