Mumbai is poised for a significant weather shift this week, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting a renewed spell of heavy rainfall starting Thursday. After an unusually early onset in May followed by a lull, the monsoon is gathering momentum once again, offering relief from sweltering heat and supporting wider ecological and agricultural needs.
Despite a record-breaking early arrival of the southwest monsoon in May, the city has endured an unseasonal dry spell through the first half of June. According to IMD data, Colaba and Santacruz observatories recorded only 83 mm and 87 mm of rainfall respectively—roughly 25 mm below the month’s average. The resulting rise in temperatures and humidity has led to discomfort and water stress in some localities.
This week, however, weather systems such as an upper-air cyclonic circulation over Odisha and a trough extending from Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra are expected to re-energise rainfall over the region. IMD officials have issued yellow alerts for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, with an orange alert across southern Konkan districts, warning of potential thunderstorms, gusty winds, and localised flooding.
This shift is more than seasonal—it reflects the growing unpredictability of monsoonal patterns under climate stress. Experts point to the lack of consistent weather systems—such as the Somali Jet or troughs along the western coast—as reasons behind the two-week lull. But with systems strengthening again, the Konkan belt, including Mumbai, could receive rainfall exceeding 204 mm in some pockets between Friday and Saturday. As the rains pick up, they’re expected to cool urban heat islands, recharge water tables, and stabilise soil moisture for kharif cropping.
Civic authorities have urged residents to stay alert, while experts stress the urgent need for water-sensitive urban infrastructure—like permeable pavements and green corridors—to reduce flood risk. If sustainable practices aren’t scaled up now, they warn, the growing volatility of India’s monsoons will continue to strain cities already grappling with the dual pressures of climate change and rapid urbanisation.
