Mumbai: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared that the monsoon has finally entered Maharashtra on Thursday reaching south Konkan and Kolhapur. IMD offcial said the monsoon got delayed due to cyclone Vayu, and it’s expected to move forward rapidly. “The progress of the monsoon will be rapid after June 22 or June 23. The monsoon is likely to cover 90 per cent of the country by July 4,” he said. The IMD declared onset of monsoon on Thursday in parts of south Konkan and parts of south Madhya Maharashtra. KS Hosalikar, deputy director general of meteorology, IMD, Mumbai declared in a tweet: “The northern limit of monsoon is passing from 17 N, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Shimoga, Salem, Cuddalore, Gangtok. Conditions are favourable for some more parts of Maharashtra in next two to three days.”
IMD official said with the effect of cyclone ‘Vayu’ on the southern peninsula getting over, the delayed southwest monsoon is now expected to arrive in Maharashtra by June 22 or 23. “The much-awaited monsoon is expected to reach southern Konkan and Goa by June 21, and is likely to cover the entire Maharashtra by June 24 or 25,” said official.
“While the monsoon is likely to cover the entire Maharashtra, good rains are expected over the parched regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha, which are currently reeling under water crisis,” added IMD official. The IMD also predicted strong winds with speed reaching up to 40-50 kms per hour are likely to prevail over south-west and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea on Thursday and Friday. The IMD has already warned fishermen against venturing into the sea.
