Maharashtra Faces Wettest May in 35 Years: Climate Change or Natural Variation?
Introduction Maharashtra is experiencing its wettest May since 1990, with pre-monsoon rainfall reaching 74.6mm from May 1 to 23 — an 844% surplus over the monthly average of 7.9mm. This unprecedented rainfall has led to significant agricultural damage and raised questions about the underlying causes. 📍 What's Happening in Maharashtra? The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that Pune district set a new all-time May rainfall record with 119.6mm , surpassing previous highs from 1918, 1960, and 1961. Shivajinagar in Pune recorded 135.2mm so far this month, its highest since 1961. The intense rainfall has caused agricultural damage across nearly 30,000 hectares, particularly impacting crops like maize, banana, and onions in districts such as Chandrapur, Jalna, and Nashik. Landslides have also occurred in the ghat regions of Kolhapur, Satara, and Sangli. 🌍 Is Climate Change to Blame? Experts suggest that such extreme weather events may be linked to climate change , as ...