Mumbai rains: IMD issues red alert for city and adjoining Thane, Palghar

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Friday, July 8, in Mumbai, Thane and nearby regions, with the likelihood of 200mm rainfall. A red alert by the IMD indicates very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

Other regions in Maharashtra which have also been given a red alert for Friday include - Pune, Satara, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur.

According to the IMD’s forecast for the next 48 hours, Mumbai is likely to witness heavy rain in the city and suburbs; with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. There is also a possibility of occasional strong winds reaching 40-50 kmph.

According to IMD official Jayanta Sarkar, Mumbai is experiencing active monsoon due to favourable synaptic situations like cyclonic circulation, low-pressure areas, off-shore trough and westerly winds.

“These favourable conditions will continue for the next five days, leading to similar widespread rainfall over Konkan and Maharashtra till next week,” said the official.

In the last 24 hours, Colaba recorded 110mm rainfall, while Santacruz recorded 125mm.

The city has also witnessed a drop in temperatures from last week. On Thursday, the minimum temperature recorded in Santacruz was 24.8°C and the maximum was 27.7°C, with relative humidity at 92 per cent. At Colaba, the minimum temperature was 24.8°C and the maximum was 27.4°C, with relative humidity at 93 per cent.

Meanwhile, data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), indicated that on Thursday, Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was good, at19, while Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad recorded AQIs of 45, 21, and 20 respectively.

The lower the AQI value, the cleaner the air, while a higher AQI indicates a greater level of air pollution and health concerns.