Mumbai braces for light to moderate rainfall as monsoon makes a comeback

Only a green alert has been issued for now

After a dry spell, Mumbai rains are set to make a comeback. But the intensity of the rainfall will be light to moderate, predicted the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD's Santa Cruz observatory has recorded 4 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday, whereas Colaba observatory recorded 0.7 mm rainfall.

"Heavy rain likely over Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on August 20. Subdued rain likely to continue over South parts of Peninsular India and Gujarat in next 4-5 days," tweeted KS Hosalikar, head, IMD, Pune. Meanwhile, the city has recorded only 36 mm rainfall in the month of August so far, as against its monthly average of 561 mm.

"The prolonged ‘Break Monsoon' phase has resulted in low deficient rainfall in August. The August deficiency is 36 per cent. But there is light on the horizon, low pressure in the Bay has formed, which can track inland, and ‘force' the now stuck Monsoon Axis Southwards. The low pressure is expected to move inland and bring a partial recovery in rainfall, in Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra," said Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of Weather, a private weather blog.

Also read: Maharashtra: Four held in Ulhasnagar suicide investigation

Kapadia added, "Mumbai will see a partial increase in rainfall from Sunday, August 20. It can continue with thunder next week." The meteorologist from Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting agency said: "However, in view of the low-pressure area forming in Bay of Bengal and moving inland, coming closer to Madhya Pradesh, bringing south-westerlies along the coast which will bring in some rainfall for the city of Mumbai for a change."