Rain, hailstorms in parts of eastern, central Maharashtra

Parts of Maharashtra like Nanded and Nagpur witnessed unseasonal hailstorms which could affect the cotton and tur crops. Eastern part of the state also received rains which led to the sudden change in weather. Some parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada are likely to receive showers on Friday.

Mumbai: Unseasonal rains lashed parts of eastern Maharashtra on Wednesday and Thursday while hailstorms were also witnessed in Nanded and Nagpur districts, the India Meteorological Department said.

Cool breeze and excess moisture led to this sudden change in weather, an IMD official said on Thursday.

Some parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada are likely to receive showers on Friday and Saturday too, he said.

The showers could affect crops such as cotton and tur.

Mahur in Nanded district had a heavy hailstorm on Wednesday afternoon.

The Nagpur city and neighbouring areas also reported heavy showers and hailstorms in the last two days.

K S Hosalikar, deputy director-general of IMD, Mumbai, said that "interaction between the mid-level westerly trough and lower levels of easterly trough would cause thunderstorm and lightning over Vidarbha, Jharkhand and Telangana till Friday morning".