Monsoon to set in over Mumbai today

Mumbai: The southwest monsoon is expected to set in over Mumbai on Wednesday, a senior official of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Mumbai, said. This will further intensify rain activities in the city starting Wednesday, meteorologists have predicted.

Rains lashed the city on Tuesday morning but the IMD Mumbai termed these rainfall activities as pre-monsoon showers. However, later in the afternoon Shubhandi Bhute, scientist - RMC, shared a video update on the advancement of the southwest monsoon. In her video update, Bhute said: "Conditions are favourable for the onset of monsoon in Mumbai & adjoining areas. There are indications of southwest monsoon’s arrival in Mumbai on Wednesday." She added, "The current favourable conditions have brought pre-monsoon showers in various parts of Mumbai and adjoining areas on Tuesday.”

The IMD on Saturday had confirmed the arrival of southwest monsoon in Maharashtra as it reached Harnai in Ratnagiri district. But, despite favourable conditions, the monsoon’s further progress seemed to be slow.

The Maharashtra capital on Tuesday received showers ranging between 20 mm to 40 mm in Colaba, Mahalaxmi and parts of Dadar area, while some weather stations in north Mumbai including Chincholi, Borivali and Dahisar received around 60 mm of rainfall.

The IMD on Tuesday afternoon issued a forecast that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning or gusty winds and very heavy rain were very likely at isolated places in Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik and some parts of Marathwada in central Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, popular private weather blog, ‘Vagaries of Weather’ said: "With a few thunder showers on Tuesday, rainfall will gradually increase from Wednesday, as the South West monsoon will be advancing to Mumbai on June 9. Further on June 9, June 10 and June 11 the city and adjoining areas will witness intermittent heavy and regular spells of rainfall which will range between 40-50 mm per day. The rainfall activity will further increase by the weekend."

At the same Skymet Weather, a private weather agency, stated: “Since the beginning of June, Mumbai has been receiving decent pre-monsoon rains. Between June 1 and 8 city has recorded 135.3 mm rain against the monthly average of 493.1 mm."

Raising an alert for both BMC and public on likely heavy rainfall this week Skyment further stated : " Heavy rain, waterlogging, and flooding of low-lying areas have now become a common affair for Mumbai during monsoon season. Mumbai may surpass the monthly June average of rain by end of this rain spell."