The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Goa, Raigad, and Ratnagiri districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall from May 23 through the weekend. An orange alert has also been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Sindhudurg, and the ghats of Pune and Satara, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds.
The alerts follow the development of a low-pressure system over the east-central Arabian Sea, off the Konkan and Goa coasts. The system is expected to intensify within the next 36 hours and move northwards, bringing intense pre-monsoon showers to coastal Maharashtra.
For Mumbai, the orange alert covers May 23 and 24, with expected wind speeds reaching 50–60 km/h at isolated spots. Sea conditions are likely to remain rough until the night of May 23 and may become very rough between May 24 and 27.
Regional Meteorological Centre official Shubhangi Bhute stated that wind speeds may vary between 30 to 60 km/h in some areas. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, especially along the Maharashtra and Gujarat coastlines, and those already at sea are urged to return by the afternoon of May 23.
The IMD added that conditions are becoming favorable for the southwest monsoon to arrive in Kerala over the next two to three days.
Other regions are also on alert. An isolated hailstorm is predicted over Himachal Pradesh, while Uttarakhand may witness heavy rainfall on May 23 and 24. Dust storms with wind speeds of 40–50 km/h are likely across West Rajasthan between May 23 and 25.
In terms of heat, IMD has forecast a heatwave to severe heatwave in parts of West Rajasthan from May 22 to 24. Similar conditions are expected in isolated areas of Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and north Madhya Pradesh on May 23. East and West Rajasthan may continue to experience hot weather, including warm nights, in the coming days.