Mumbai Braces for More Rain: Monsoon Arrives Early, Bringing Heavy Showers

Mumbai and its surrounding areas are experiencing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon arrived in Maharashtra nearly a decade earlier than usual.

Heavy Downpours Overnight

Throughout Sunday night, Mumbai’s island city and suburbs were drenched by heavy rainfall. The island city recorded an average rainfall of 58 mm, while the eastern and western suburbs received 19 mm and 15 mm respectively. The highest rainfall was recorded in Nariman Point at 40 mm. This follows a 24-hour period that saw Colaba recording 135 mm of rain and Santacruz receiving 33 mm.

Monsoon Arrives Ahead of Schedule

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the arrival of the monsoon in Maharashtra on Sunday, a full ten days before its typical June 5th onset. This marks the earliest monsoon arrival in the state since 1990, bringing with it the potential for more heavy rainfall.

Warnings and Forecasts

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and Thane, predicting moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. Meanwhile, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg districts are under a red alert for the next 24 hours with predictions of very heavy rainfall.

Early Onset Creates Concerns

This early arrival of the monsoon has already resulted in over 700% surplus rainfall in Maharashtra during May. While farmers are hopeful for bountiful harvests, concerns remain about potential disruptions to pre-sowing land preparation and the impact of excessive rainfall in the crucial second week of June.

Stay Tuned for Updates

We’ll continue to provide live updates on the situation as it unfolds.