Following the onset of the Southwest Monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms with moderate to heavy showers in Mumbai on Monday. Monsoon arrived in Mumbai two days ahead of schedule, on Sunday, due to favourable conditions along the Maharashtra coast, the MeT Department was reported as stating by PTI.
"Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, some more parts of Maharashtra (including Mumbai) and Telangana during next 2-3 days," IMD said in a post on X.
The Southwest Monsoon usually arrives in Mumbai by June 11, although, in 2023, it made its onset on June 24 due to the 'Biparjoy' cyclone over the Arabian Sea, the IMD said, PTI reported
"Mumbai can anticipate thunderstorms accompanied by heavy to very heavy rainfall, with a probability of realisation between 51 and 75%. Neighbouring areas such as Raigad and Ratnagiri stand a higher chance of experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall. A Red Alert has been issued for Sindhudurg and its neighbouring district Kolhapur, emphasising heavy to very heavy rainfall in most areas," the IMD said.
The IMD on Sunday issued a warning of moderate to heavy rainfall in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas in the next 48 hours. Most districts in Maharashtra, especially in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, are expected to receive heavy rainfall, it added.
The heavy showers on Sunday led to waterlogging in several Mumbai areas such as Byculla, Sion, Dadar, Mazgaon, Kurla, and Andheri. This severely impacted vehicular movement and caused long traffic jams.
Local trains, considered the city’s lifeline, were also delayed as water accumulated on tracks at some locations.