Mumbai weather update: IMD issues orange alert for city

Heavy rainfall is expected over the next four-five days. Pic/Anurag Ahire

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red alert' (extremely heavy rainfall very likely) for neighbouring Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Pune, with an 'orange alert' (heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely) in Mumbai, for Friday. The weather bureau has warned of an increase in rain activity over the next few days.

"The monsoon remained vigorous over Konkan and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on Wednesday and Thursday, with widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall, and isolated extremely heavy falls. Due to active monsoon conditions, this enhanced rainfall activity is very likely to continue over parts of Konkan and adjoining ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra during the next four-five days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy falls, is expected," the IMD bulletin on Thursday stated. An increase in rainfall activity is also expected over parts of Marathwada, with the possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated places.

In the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday, the IMD's Santacruz observatory (which represents suburbs) recorded 99 mm of rain, whereas the Colaba observatory (representing the city) recorded 85 mm.

Nearing monthly average

From July 1 to July 20, IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a rainfall of 908 mm, as against its monthly average of 919.9 mm. The Colaba observatory recorded 694 mm as against its monthly average of 768 mm.

As per the rainfall data compiled by private weather blog Vagaries of the Weather, between June 1 and July 20, the Santacruz observatory recorded a cumulative rainfall of 1,458 mm, while Colaba recorded a cumulative rainfall of 1,119 mm.

Talking about rain activity over the next few days, Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of the Weather, said, "The intensity of rain has already reduced slightly. The frequency will further decrease on Friday, before increasing again on Saturday and Sunday."

However, contradicting this claim, meteorologists from private forecasting agency Skymet Weather Services, said, "Slightly heavier rain likely on Friday. On Saturday, there might be a slight reduction. Rainfall in July for Mumbai will definitely surpass the 1,000 mm mark very soon."

Ghat areas hit hard

As per rainfall data compiled by Vagaries of the Weather, the ghat region of Maharashtra received good rainfall, with precipitation levels crossing the 2,000 mm mark in many areas. Recording 350 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday, Tamhini Ghat recorded a total rainfall of 2,880 mm between June 1 and July 20. This is the highest cumulative rainfall recorded in ghat areas of Maharashtra.

This is followed by Amboli with 2,774 mm, Matheran (2,710 mm), Mahabaleshwar (2,325 mm) and Khandala (2,190 mm), during the same period.

2,880mm
Rainfall received at Tamhini Ghat since June 1