Mumbai rains: City, neighbours to stay wet till Sept 30

Rain lashes pedestrians near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Wednesday. Pic/Shadab Khan

The city and adjoining areas are likely to see rain, thunderstorms and lightning till the end of September and beyond, according to meteorologists. A weather forecast released by the India Meteorology Department (IMD) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stated that the Mumbai region can expect a spell of moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by overcast conditions throughout this week.

This forecast follows a series of periodic showers that have occurred in Mumbai and neighbouring townships over the past week. Following a relatively subdued monsoon in August, Mumbai witnessed a significant increase in rainfall activity during September. The cumulative rainfall for the month has already exceeded the monthly average, which is 383.5 mm. To date, Mumbai has recorded a total of 395.9 mm of rainfall this month.

With three days left in the month, there's a chance that Mumbai's total rainfall for September could surpass the 400-mm mark. Meanwhile, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad until Thursday at least, indicating the possibility of thunderstorms coupled with lightning and gusty winds.

Climatologist Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of the Weather, a popular private weather blog, said: "Thundershowers are anticipated in most areas of the Western ghats, central Maharashtra and portions of Marathwada and Vidarbha until October 1. In the meantime, the Mumbai and Pune regions can expect afternoon/evening thunderstorms associated with the retreating monsoon. These thunderstorm conditions may persist until October 2."

A meteorologist from Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting blog, said, "On September 29 and 30, rainfall will become light. An east-west trough is extending from North Coastal Andhra Pradesh across Telangana right up to Konkan. The proximity of the trough from Mumbai will give rain. A cyclonic circulation is also developing by Thursday embedded in the trough itself. Thus, rains will be seen over Mumbai until the end of the month of varied intensity."