Widespread showers likely in Mumbai from tonight, to continue till weekend

With south-west monsoon set to officially arrive in the city within the next 48 hours, Mumbaikars can expect widespread showers in the next few days.

Although the city witnessed heavy pre-monsoon showers in the second week of June, they were attributed to the abundance of moisture in the atmosphere because of Cyclone Vayu’s movement.

The city has already witnessed a two-week delay in the onset of monsoon this year, making it the most delayed monsoon since 2009. As a result, the rainfall deficiency between June 1 and June 24 stands at 68% in south Mumbai and 54% in the suburbs.

However, now that the south-west monsoon has arrived in more than 90 percent of Maharashtra, it is likely to cover the entire state – including Mumbai – within the next 48 hours.

“Within the next 48 hours (till June 26), the southwest monsoon onset is likely over Mumbai, provided rain-bearing criteria are fulfilled. The criteria include consecutive rainfall for two days amounting to 2.5mm per day and supporting wind direction being westerly,” Shubhangi Bhute of India Meteorological Department (IMD) told Hindustan Times.

The intensity of rains is likely to increase over Mumbai from Tuesday due to prevailing conditions.

“The current wind direction is westerly, but based on a cyclonic circulation (weather system) located over south Gujarat and surrounding areas, the intensity of rain is likely to increase over Mumbai and surrounding areas from Tuesday onwards. In such a situation, monsoon onset can be declared by Wednesday,” Bhute added.

Private weather agency Skymet has also forecast sustained rainfall over Mumbai from Tuesday night onwards, which is expected to last through the week.

Meanwhile, rainfall intensity over interior Maharashtra will reduce from Wednesday or Thursday till the first week of July, it said.