Heavy Rains Lash Pune, Bring Relief From Heat; Waterlogging Hits Kondhwa
Pune, 22nd May 2026: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Pune on Wednesday, bringing much-needed relief from the intense summer heat that had pushed temperatures close to 40°C in parts of the city over the past few days. However, the sudden downpour also led to waterlogging and traffic disruption in several low-lying areas.
One of the few affected spots was near Jyoti Hotel Chowk in Kondhwa, where heavy rain caused severe water accumulation on the road, inconveniencing commuters during peak evening hours. Several two-wheelers reportedly broke down after entering the waterlogged stretch.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds across parts of Maharashtra over the next 24 to 48 hours. Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Solapur and parts of Marathwada are likely to witness moderate rainfall with lightning activity, weather officials said.
Meteorologists said atmospheric instability caused by rising temperatures over western and southern Maharashtra has triggered cloud formation and thunderstorm activity in several districts. Rain-bearing clouds were also observed over parts of Raigad, Ratnagiri and the Pune region.
The weather department warned that some areas could witness short-duration heavy showers accompanied by lightning and wind speeds of 30 to 40 kmph. Authorities have appealed to citizens to remain cautious during thunderstorms and avoid taking shelter under trees or venturing outdoors unnecessarily during lightning activity.
The sudden spell of rain has led to a drop in maximum temperatures across parts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada, offering temporary respite from the heatwave-like conditions prevailing in recent weeks.
However, the IMD said Vidarbha continues to remain under severe heat stress, with districts such as Akola, Wardha, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Amravati and Gadchiroli recording significantly high temperatures. Heatwave-like conditions are expected to persist in parts of the region over the next few days.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Friday in districts including Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv and Latur, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning and moderate rainfall. Similar weather conditions are expected to continue in parts of the state on Saturday as well.
