Soaking Showers Ahead: Heavy Rain Expected in Mumbai, Bengal, and Delhi

Get ready for some much-needed relief from the heat, Delhi! The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts thunderstorms with rain for the capital on Wednesday, May 21, and again on Thursday.

Delhi residents are likely to feel the difference as temperatures are expected to dip slightly, with a minimum of 28 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius. This comes as a welcome change after Tuesday’s scorching 41.8 degrees Celsius and high humidity.

Mumbai Drenched by Unexpected Rains

Meanwhile, Mumbai experienced a surprise downpour on Tuesday, leading to waterlogging and flooding on its busy streets. The eastern and western suburbs saw heavier rainfall compared to the city center, according to officials. The IMD attributes this to a cyclonic circulation forming over the east-central Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast.

This weather system is predicted to intensify into a low-pressure area around May 22, moving northwards and potentially bringing heavier rainfall to Maharashtra between May 21 and 24. Parts of south Konkan, Mumbai, and south central Maharashtra are expected to be most affected, with heavy rain, thunder, and gusty winds of up to 40 kmph.

Bengal Braces for Heavy Downpours

West Bengal is also in for a soaking. The IMD forecasts heavy rain in the northern districts and thunderstorms in the southern parts until Friday. The culprit? An upper air cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh and favorable wind patterns from the Bay of Bengal.

Districts in south Bengal, including Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Hooghly, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, West Midnapore, Birbhum, and Murshidabad, are expected to see heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. North Bengal districts like Darjeeling, Kamlimpong, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri are also on alert for heavy rain.

South India Batters by Torrential Rain

Further south, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been lashed by torrential rain, tragically claiming eight lives. Five fatalities occurred in Karnataka, including three in Bengaluru, while three people were killed in a wall collapse in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

The IMD issued a ‘yellow alert’ for heavy rain and strong winds from May 20 to 22. Meanwhile, Kerala is bracing for heavy rain over the next seven days, with the southwest monsoon predicted to arrive earlier than usual, possibly as early as the next four to five days. This would be the earliest arrival of the monsoon in Kerala since 2009.