Expect below-normal day temp in March first week

Pune: Maharashtra is likely to witness a cooler start to March, except for the Konkan region.The latest extended range forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the maximum temperatures were anticipated to drop below-normal levels over the next few days and for at least the initial seven days of March in parts of the state.Anupam Kashyapi, the head of the weather forecasting division at IMD-Pune, said the day temperatures were expected to range 1-3° below normal in most parts of Maharashtra during the first week of March.“From Feb 23-29, there is a likelihood of rainfall because of the wind interaction, especially in central India covering areas like Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh. During March 1-7, the western disturbances affecting north India will be active, leading to daytime clouding and partial moisture incursion in parts of our state. Until the first week of March, there are prospects of rain in parts of north and central India, posing a risk to wheat harvest and storage owing to potential fungal growth even during the post-harvest period,” Kashyapi said.He said during both the weeks, daytime temperatures were likely to remain below normal for Maharashtra, except for the Konkan region during the March 1-7 period. “There could be a higher drop in daytime temperatures during Feb 23-29 compared to the subsequent week. The minimum temperatures are likely to rise by 1-2° in the central parts of Maharashtra during the first week of March in comparison to the last week of Feb. This could be because of nighttime clouding and presence of more humidity, which tend to cause an increase in minimum temperatures,” he said.On the rain prospects till Feb-end, Kashyapi said, “Rain chances over the state until Feb-end include a new western disturbance likely to affect the Western Himalayan region from Feb 26. A cyclonic circulation over Marathwada and wind discontinuity from the cyclonic circulation to the central Arabian Sea via Vidarbha are expected. Additionally, an anti-cyclone over the Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen in the next few days, resulting in wind interaction over Maharashtra and central India.”