Mumbai began Ganesh Chaturthi under cloudy skies on Monday as the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Mumbai and Thane, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next 24 hours. The alert comes as the city starts the 10-day Ganeshotsav period, when large numbers of devotees travel for idol installations, visits and public celebrations.
The IMD forecast indicates that intense spells of rain could affect both districts during the day. Mumbai is expected to record a maximum temperature of 25.7 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to remain around 24.3 degrees Celsius, according to the weather agency’s forecast cited in the report.
The warning follows heavy rain across several parts of Mumbai on Sunday. Some locations received more than 100 mm of rainfall over a 12-hour period, raising the likelihood of waterlogging and difficult road travel during the festival’s opening day.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation data showed that Mumbai’s island city area recorded average rainfall of 49.55 mm between 8 am on September 13 and 8 am on September 14. The eastern suburbs recorded 66.46 mm during the same period. The figures cover the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning.
The combination of intense rain and festival movement may affect people travelling to bring home idols, public mandals conducting installations and residents moving through roads and public spaces. Citizens have been advised to exercise caution while travelling, monitor weather updates and remain particularly alert during periods of intense rainfall.
Tide conditions are an additional factor for the city’s drainage and commuting systems. Mumbai is expected to experience a high tide of 4.23 metres at 1:37 pm on Monday. Another high tide of 4.24 metres is forecast at 2:12 am on Tuesday, September 15. The city is also expected to see a low tide of 0.55 metres at 7:40 pm on Monday, followed by a low tide of 1.55 metres at 7:48 am on Tuesday, according to BMC timings cited in the report.
Despite the alert, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations began across Mumbai on Monday, September 14, with devotees bringing idols into homes and public mandals carrying out installations. The IMD warning remains in force for Mumbai and Thane for the next 24 hours, while residents and festival visitors have been urged to keep track of official weather updates before travelling.
