Mumbai witnessed an abrupt shift in weather on Wednesday, surprising residents as light rainfall swept across parts of the city and its suburbs. The unexpected drizzle, following a week of cooler mornings, brought an end to Mumbai’s fleeting winter chill and replaced it with rising humidity levels. The rain began in the early hours, with areas in South Mumbai and suburbs like Powai and Goregaon reporting scattered showers. The slippery roads, coated with wet dust, caused a slowdown for commuters and pedestrians alike, who carefully navigated the damp streets to avoid mishaps.
Meteorologists have attributed the unseasonal rains to Cyclone Fengal, which has caused significant disruptions in Tamil Nadu and is now influencing weather patterns across the Konkan region. The cyclone-induced low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea is gradually moving toward Oman, bringing cloudy skies and sporadic rain along its path. Ratnagiri and other parts of the Konkan coast have already reported persistent cloud cover and intermittent rainfall. Weather forecasts suggest similar conditions will persist over the next 2-3 days, with central Maharashtra also likely to experience light rain. The abrupt rains caused an increase in daytime temperatures in Mumbai, breaking the spell of pleasant winter mornings.
Office-goers, many dressed in warmer clothes in anticipation of the usual December chill, were caught off guard and quickly swapped their sweaters for umbrellas. Commuters sought shelter under shop awnings and flyovers as they waited for the showers to subside. The light yet disruptive rain added to the city’s challenges, creating sticky, muddy streets and causing delays in the usual morning routine. While the intensity of the showers was minimal, their timing in the midst of the winter season left residents adapting to the sudden transition.
