The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced that a well-marked low-pressure area over the eastcentral Arabian Sea has intensified into a depression.
The system is currently positioned around 40 km northwest of Ratnagiri and is expected to move eastwards, crossing the south Konkan coast between Ratnagiri and Dapoli during the forenoon of May 24.
The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall alert for several states in western and southern India. Key rainfall predictions from May 24 to 28 are as follows:
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Konkan & Goa: Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy showers on May 24 and 25.
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Kerala & Mahe: Heavy rainfall expected from May 24 to 26.
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Karnataka:
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Coastal Karnataka: Heavy rain from May 24 to 27.
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North Interior Karnataka: Heavy rainfall on May 25.
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South Interior Karnataka: Heavy showers expected from May 24 to 27.
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Madhya Maharashtra: Heavy rain, with isolated extremely heavy showers on May 25.
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South Gujarat: Light to moderate rain at most places, with isolated heavy rainfall likely from May 24 to 27.
Squally winds reaching 45–55 km/h, gusting up to 65 km/h, are expected over the eastcentral and northeast Arabian Sea and along the Konkan-Goa and south Gujarat coasts until May 25. Wind speeds will gradually ease to 40–50 km/h with gusts up to 60 km/h during May 26–27.
Sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough over the eastcentral and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Comorin region, and along and off the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and south Gujarat from May 24 to 27.
Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to exercise caution and follow updates from the IMD closely.