Mumbai experienced an unprecedented weather event as the city recorded its highest May rainfall in over a century, coinciding with the earliest monsoon onset in 75 years.
On May 26, 2025, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the arrival of the southwest monsoon in Mumbai, 16 days ahead of the typical onset date of June 11. The Colaba weather station reported 161.9 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period, surpassing the previous May record of 279.4 mm set in 1918. Santacruz recorded 144 mm, marking the highest 24-hour rainfall in May since 2021. Cumulatively, South Mumbai has received 456.5 mm of rainfall since May 1, while Santacruz has logged 342 mm.
This deluge led to significant disruptions across the city. Local train services were delayed, with over 50 cancellations reported, and road traffic was severely affected due to waterlogging and fallen trees. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport experienced flight delays and cancellations, prompting authorities to issue travel advisories. The early and intense monsoon has raised concerns about Mumbai’s preparedness for extreme weather events. Experts attribute the sudden onset and heavy rainfall to the Madden-Julian Oscillation, a climate pattern that influences tropical weather systems.
In response to the situation, the Maharashtra government has deployed 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and two State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams across affected areas, including Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. Authorities are on high alert, with red alerts issued for these regions, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall. IMD predicts above-normal monsoon rainfall for Maharashtra this year, suggesting that such extreme weather events may become more frequent. This underscores the urgent need for Mumbai to enhance its infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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