The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Saturday, the Santacruz weather station recorded 245 mm of rainfall. In contrast, the Colaba observatory recorded 83.2 mm during the same period. According to IMD records, this marks the highest single-day rainfall in August since 2020, when 268 mm was recorded. The highest ever 24 hours rainfall in month of August was observed in 1997, with a staggering 346 mm.
Konkan Region Also on Alert
The IMD had initially issued a yellow alert for Friday and an orange alert for Saturday; however, as the intensity of the rainfall increased late Friday night, the warning was escalated to a red alert. Shubhangi Bhute, Director of IMD Mumbai, explained, “A low-pressure area has developed over the Bay of Bengal, resulting in the formation of a trough extending from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea—commonly referred to as an east-west shear zone. This system is expected to impact the entire Konkan region."
Fresh Low-Pressure Area Developing
“In view of the intense rainfall, the orange alert for Mumbai was upgraded to a red alert. The entire Konkan region remains under an orange alert for August 17," she added. An IMD further stated that a fresh low-pressure area is likely to develop over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal around August 18, which could further influence the rainfall activity across the region. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai on Sunday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations across the city.
Third-Highest August Rainfall in 13 Years
Meanwhile, as per data shared by the IMD, the 245 mm of rainfall recorded at the Santacruz observatory ranks as the third-highest single-day rainfall in August over the past 13 years, starting from 2013. It follows 331 mm recorded on August 30, 2017, and 268.6 mm on August 4, 2020. The all-time highest 24-hour rainfall in August remains 346.2 mm, recorded on August 23, 1997.
