Mumbai and its neighbouring districts of Thane and Palghar are currently under a yellow warning as moderate to heavy rains continue to drench the cityscape. After a delayed onset, the monsoon has made a robust entry, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue alerts for potential disruptions due to persistent rainfall.
As of Friday morning, the IMD’s data from Colaba and Santacruz observatories indicated significant precipitation, with Colaba recording 79 mm and Santacruz registering 66 mm of rain. Throughout the day, moderate showers persisted, with Santacruz receiving an additional 28 mm and Colaba 21 mm by evening. Sunil Kamble, IMD Mumbai’s director, confirmed that Mumbai should brace for continued moderate to heavy rains over the coming days. While extreme weather events are not forecasted, Kamble highlighted the absence of major weather systems like low-pressure areas or offshore troughs that typically intensify rainfall. The recent downpour has notably reduced Mumbai’s rain deficit, which had surpassed 50% before the current spell. With June’s average rainfall at 550 mm, Santacruz has already received 288 mm, offering hope that the deficit could be partially mitigated before month-end.
However, the deluge has brought challenges such as waterlogging in low-lying areas like Kurla’s LBS Marg and traffic disruptions across the city. Instances like the closure of the Andheri subway due to waterlogging underscore ongoing infrastructural vulnerabilities during heavy rains. Moreover, the precipitation has significantly cooled temperatures, dropping below 30 degrees Celsius after recent highs of 36.4 degrees. This respite from heat, coupled with the beneficial impact on the city’s water reserves, marks a critical phase in Mumbai’s annual monsoon cycle. As Mumbai navigates through this phase of heightened rainfall, municipal authorities and residents alike are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for potential impacts on daily life and infrastructure. “It was observed that the wind pattern had strengthened owing to which we upgraded the warning to a yellow alert.
