Isolated showers bring relief, CMO urges farmers not to rush with sowing

Nagpur: Isolated spells of rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds swept parts of Nagpur city and district on Monday, bringing much-needed relief from the intense heat that gripped Vidarbha over the past week. Similar brief showers and thunderstorm activity were reported from several other districts of the region, while Amravati received heavy rain. Temperatures climbed sharply across the region during the afternoon, but the rain led to a noticeable dip in mercury in latter half of the day. Several districts still recorded temperatures above 42°C. As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Nagpur recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2°C, making it one of the hottest locations in the region. Wardha registered 42.5°C, Akola 42.3°C, Amravati and Yavatmal 42.2°C each, while Bramhapuri, which topped national temperature charts a day earlier, recorded 42°C. Weather experts cautioned that the showers are pre-monsoon in nature and should not be mistaken for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Vidarbha. The monsoon has advanced into parts of Maharashtra, particularly South Konkan, but is expected to reach Vidarbha only after June 10. The chief minister's office (CMO), citing weather forecasts, has appealed to farmers not to undertake sowing operations based solely on the ongoing thunderstorm activity. As per the advisory, the likelihood of widespread and satisfactory monsoon rainfall across Maharashtra remains low at least until June 15. While afternoon cloud formation, scattered thunderstorms, gusty winds and isolated rainfall are likely over Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh and parts of Central Maharashtra, the conditions are not yet conducive for large-scale sowing. The advisory further noted that maximum temperatures are expected to remain elevated until at least June 12, with Vidarbha and Khandesh likely to continue experiencing temperatures above 40 C. Environmentalist Suresh Chopne also urged farmers to exercise caution and rely on scientific weather forecasts before beginning sowing operations. "Many farmers still follow traditional indicators such as the appearance of ‘mrug kida' insects and the calls of birds like ‘kokila' and ‘pawasa' as signs of impending rain. While these practices have cultural significance, modern forecasting tools, satellite imagery and scientific advisories provide a far more accurate assessment of rainfall patterns. Following IMD forecasts can help farmers avoid unnecessary losses," he said.Officials have also advised citizens to avoid taking shelter under trees, tin sheds, electric poles, transformers and power lines during lightning and thunderstorm activity. The coming week is expected to witness a mix of heat, humidity and scattered pre-monsoon showers, with farmers urged to wait for a more stable monsoon phase before commencing sowing.