IMD red alert for Mumbai, orange alert for Amravati; Nagpur & other Vidarbha districts on yellow alert for rainfall

Following the heavy rainfall in Mumbai and its neighbouring districts, rain alerts were issued in several parts of Maharashtra. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted the status of monsoon rainfall and categorised areas for orange and yellow alerts for the next two days in August.

Mumbai city and its suburbs received a red alert for August 19. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hereby urged people to stay indoors.

An 'orange alert' was issued for Amravati and Gadchiroli and 'yellow alert' for Nagpur alongside some other districts in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region over the next two days.

According to the weather forecast, there would be thunderstorms with moderate rainfall at places in Akola, Amravati, Buldhana and at isolated places in Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nagpur and Washim districts.

"The reason behind this active weather over Vidarbha is because the Monsoon Trough (one of the semi permanent features of South West Monsoon) is south of its normal position," IMD regional centre official Dr Praveen Kumar told news agency PTI.

The official also threw light on the well-marked low pressure area over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts at 8:30 am on Monday.

The associated cyclonic circulation is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression during next 12-hours and cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around forenoon of August 19, the official said further. 

Kumar said weather conditions are expected reduce in intensity from August 21.