PANAJI
After weeks of scorching heat, light pre-monsoon showers provided the much-needed relief across several parts of Goa late Saturday evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for May 12-13.
The thundershowers accompanied by lightening began post 7 pm and lasted over an hour. However, the low-lying areas were affected.
Besides Panaji, Old Goa, several parts of Sattari, Sanquelim, Bicholim, Ponda, Dharbandora, Mormugao, Bardez, Pernem and Salcete received the pre-monsoon rains.
Prior to the rains, the State, on Saturday, experienced partly cloudy conditions, with maximum temperatures still hovering at 34.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of around 26 degrees Celsius. In the evening, thunderstorms struck isolated areas in some parts including Sattari, Ponda, Bicholim, Dharbandora and Sanguem with the IMD confirming these showers as pre-monsoon activity.
According to the IMD Goa, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds are expected on May 12-13, Sunday-Monday, followed by light showers over the next two days and partly cloudy conditions until May 17.
Earlier, the IMD Delhi reported a cyclonic circulation over Maharashtra and a trough extending from Rajasthan to Vidarbha stating that convergence of these systems is likely to bring “intensely wet weather” in the coming days.
In view of these weather patterns, rainfall has been forecast across most parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep, as well as sections of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh until Tuesday, May 14. Some areas are also likely to experience lightning and thunderstorms with strong winds during this period.
Quite a few places in South India are already experiencing heavy rainfall as a result of which, spells of rain or thunderstorms in Goa are likely to continue for a few more days.
