Unseasonal January Rains Hit Maharashtra, Followed by Severe Cold Wave

• Maharashtra's Beed and Dharur areas experienced unseasonal light rain showers on Wednesday evening, surprising residents.
• A low-pressure belt near the Tamil Nadu coast and cyclonic winds in the Bay of Bengal are causing cloudy weather and unseasonal drizzle across Marathwada.
• The current cloudy conditions are expected to clear by January 14th (Makar Sankranti), leading to a severe cold wave from January 15th to 18th.
• Temperatures are predicted to drop below 12 degrees Celsius, intensifying the cold at night.
• Farmers are concerned about the impact of heavy dew on Rabi crops like gram and wheat, potentially increasing disease incidence; Konkan mango and cashew blossoms have also been affected.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra faces unusual January rains followed by a severe cold wave, impacting daily life and agriculture.