Mumbai is set for another wet spell this week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting moderate rain and thunderstorms until 25 September. The weather bureau has issued a yellow alert across Maharashtra, urging residents to remain cautious as waterlogging and traffic disruptions persist in several parts of the city.
According to IMD officials, conditions will remain mostly cloudy, with intermittent sunshine occasionally breaking through before being overtaken by thundershowers. The rainfall pattern is expected to remain uneven, with intense spells in some areas and lighter showers in others. These localised bursts could aggravate flooding in low-lying zones, particularly during peak travel hours. Weather experts highlighted that the consistent wet conditions are linked to active monsoon currents over the Konkan coast. The system is being closely monitored as it aligns with larger climatic variations that have marked this year’s monsoon across western India. Researchers tracking urban rainfall warned that these erratic showers could become more frequent due to climate shifts, stressing the urgent need for sustainable drainage and flood-mitigation measures in cities like Mumbai.
The heavy rain over recent days has left several arterial roads waterlogged, worsening Mumbai’s traffic gridlock. Commuters have had to navigate prolonged delays, with road bottlenecks reported in areas where stormwater drains were unable to cope with high inflows. Public transport operators have also faced operational strain, with road transport running behind schedule and local trains experiencing intermittent slowdowns. Officials advised residents to plan outdoor movement cautiously until weather conditions stabilise. Forecasts indicate that 20 and 23 September may bring partly cloudy conditions with lighter showers, offering brief respite to the city. However, 21 and 22 September are likely to witness widespread moderate rainfall, while 24 and 25 September could see sudden thunderstorms disrupting daily routines. Officials have urged citizens not to underestimate isolated heavy bursts, even on days predicted to be relatively calm.
The recurring scenes of waterlogging and transport delays have once again placed Mumbai’s urban resilience under scrutiny. Experts argue that while infrastructure upgrades are underway, the city must prioritise eco-sensitive planning and carbon-neutral stormwater management systems to keep pace with intensifying rainfall. Sustainable urban drainage, green infrastructure, and decentralised water-harvesting models are being emphasised as long-term solutions to reduce dependence on conventional systems that repeatedly fall short during heavy showers.
Officials maintained that the IMD continues to track weather systems closely and will issue updates if rainfall intensifies further. While rainfall is seasonal, its unpredictable patterns underline the importance of future-ready infrastructure in a climate-vulnerable city like Mumbai.
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