Thaindian News

Mumbai, June 7 (IANS) Signalling the onset of monsoon over Maharashtra, the weather bureau Tuesday warned of heavy rains in the coastal Konkan belt of the state in the next two days.

While local cautionary signal LC-III has been issued at all the big and small ports in northern Maharashtra, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the Arabian Sea for the next two days.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre’s forecast this afternoon, heavy rains are expected to hit some places in Goa and the coastal parts of north and south Maharashtra.

The coastal districts of Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg could be lashed by heavy rains accompanied by strong winds blowing at 40-45 kmph and, at times, touching 50 kmph.

The Arabian Sea would be rough during this period and fishermen have been warned not to venture into the waters.

Meanwhile, heavy pre-monsoon showers have lashed parts of Mumbai for the past four days, bringing down the temperatures appreciably and cheering up the people who bore the burnt of the hot and humid summer.

Pre-monsoon rains have also been recorded in some parts of the humid Konkan, and the dry regions of north-Maharashtra, western Maharashtra, eastern Vidarbha and central Marathwada regions during the past week.