Maharashtra experiences ‘exceptional’ rainfall amid monsoon surge

The Western Ghats saw exceptional rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting that Lonavala, a popular tourist destination, recorded 1300 mm of rainfall from Sunday (July 5, 2026) to Wednesday (July 8, 2026) morning. On Tuesday (July 7, 2026) alone, 525 mm of rainfall was recorded. In the IMD’s scheme of categorisation, rainfall over 200 mm is considered “extremely high” rainfall.

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Palghar station in coastal Maharashtra reported 304 mm on Tuesday (July 7, 2026), against a normal of mere 26.7 mm — a 1000% rise. Raigad saw 115 mm against a normal of 33 mm.

Mahabaleshwar, in the State’s Satara district, received 513 mm of rainfall on Monday (July 6, 2026), which, according to the IMD’s historical records, is the highest 24-hour rainfall ever recorded. The hill station recorded nearly one-tenth of its average annual rainfall (5,710 mm) in a single day. 

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The rains come on the back of a ‘depression’, a pre-cyclonic collection of clouds that originated in the Bay of Bengal and monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea. The heavy rains have so far wiped out the monsoon deficits of several coastal regions in Maharashtra and triggered landslides, tunnel collapse and disruptions.

This is an El Niño year, meaning that rainfall over India is expected to be ‘below normal’ according to the IMD’s forecasts. However, experts say that pockets and periods of heavy rain can occur even during rain-deficient years. “The current monsoon activity we are witnessing is expected to last until July 10. After this, no other significant ‘low-pressure’ systems [pre-cyclonic storms] are expected to form on the near horizon,” said O.P. Sreejith, senior meteorologist at the IMD in Pune. “The outlook for rain in July overall is expected to be ‘below normal,’” he added.