Pre-monsoon showers likely mid-week

PUNE: Clouds have been gathering every afternoon for the last few days, but the city's dry spell has continued. But there is hope for some rainfall starting from June 2 or June 3 that will increase by June 5 and June 6.
The maximum and minimum temperatures will hover between 37C and 25C in Pune while there will be rainfall in parts of south central Maharashtra over places like Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Osmanabad.
Pre-monsoon showers will pick up in these parts after June 1. "These showers will continue over south central Maharashtra till the arrival of the monsoon, sometime in the second week of June. The first week of June will see intense thundershower activities over many parts of Maharashtra," Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet weather, said on Sunday.
Skymet Weather said all the pre-requisites of a fulfilling monsoon have so far been met, but they shall wait for a final forecast from India Meteorological Department as the distinction between pre-monsoon and monsoon showers can be subjective.
After June 2-3, the rainfall intensity will decrease over Kerala and there will be a lull for 3-4 days, Palawat said.
The rain intensity will increase over central Maharashtra and places like Ratnagiri, Raigad, Pune, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad will get good rain and thundershower activity. "In Pune, rain and thundershower activities are expected in this week bringing some relief from the heat," an IMD official said.
Parts of North India are still battling high temperatures and dry weather. The highest temperature on Sunday was 45C recorded at Ramgundam in Telangana. A cloudburst caused severe damage to life and property in Ghansali area of Tehri district in Uttarakhand.
According to skymetweather.com during the last 24 hours, Nainital received 36mm, Pantnagar 35mm, Mukteshwar 22 mm and Tehri 9 mm of rainfall.