IMD predicts thunderstorms for Mumbai over next 3 days

A woman tries to protect herself in the rain with a plastic bucket on Monday at Malad. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Mumbaikars woke up to a cloudy sky on Monday morning, with many parts of the western suburbs, such as Santacruz, Vile Parle and Andheri receiving prolonged spells of light rainfall, accompanied by thunder. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned that although the rains might not get severe, they could slow down Mumbai's pace a bit during the morning traveling hours. The IMD later issued severe weather warnings for Maharashtra for the next five days.

Shortly after noon on Monday, IMD's forecast predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rainfall with gusty winds of 30-40 KMPH likely to occur at isolated places in districts of Mumbai and Thane in the next three hours. "Take precautions while moving out. Don't stand nearby large trees," warned an IMD official on Twitter. By 3 PM, IMD had issued severe weather warnings for Maharashtra for the next five days, with several districts likely to be hit by thunderstorms associated with lightning, and light to moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds at isolated places.

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Speaking to mid-day, an IMD official said, "Many parts of Mumbai - especially the western suburbs - received light rainfall on Monday. These are pre-monsoon showers and don't mark the onset of the monsoon. This trend of light rainfall accompanied by heavy cloud cover and thunderstorms is likely to prevail for the next three days across Mumbai."