Mumbai: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted pre-monsoon thundershowers as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, issuing a warning of a cyclonic storm advancing towards the south coast. “The storm will bring moderate spells of rain on June 12 and reduce temperatures in the city by two to three degrees Celsius. By June 15, the intensity of rainfall will increase and south-easterly winds would turn sea conditions rough over the west coast near Maharashtra,” said an IMD official.
The system will intensify even more and start moving in the north/northwest direction along the Karnataka and Maharashtra coast, thus bringing in light to moderate rain and thundershowers over the southern parts of Maharashtra and Konkan coast, including Mumbai. “As the system further intensifies and becomes a deep depression or a cyclonic storm, rains will make their presence felt today. These rains will be the first good pre-monsoon showers over the city,” said official.
“As the wind speed increases there will be thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places in Thane and Raigad today,” IMD official said. Meanwhile, parts of city got some respite from the sweltering heat as they received rainfall accompanied by thunder on Monday night.
Cyclone Vayu on the cards?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said the deep depression in the Arabian Sea was likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Monday night and a severe cyclonic storm by Wednesday morning. "Once the system gains enough strength and intensifies into a cyclone, it will be named Cyclone Vayu."
