Mumbai weather updates: IMD announces end of southwest monsoon

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially declared the complete withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from across India. Simultaneously, the commencement of the much-anticipated northeast monsoon over southeast peninsular India has begun, bringing a fresh spell of rainfall to the southern states particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. IMDs Regional Meteorological Centre Mumbai has predicted that Mumbai, MMR, along with the rest of Maharashtra will witness post-monsoon showers or unseasonal rain and thunderstorm activity throughout the week until October 19.

Talking to mid-day Sushma Nair, a scientist with IMD's RMC Mumbai said," Yes, the Southwest Monsoon has officially withdrawn from the country. However, the light rain and thunderstorm alert issued for Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra is part of post-monsoon showers or unseasonal rains. Like we witness pre-monsoon showers before June, the rain activities we will witness hereafter will be post-monsoon showers or unseasonal rain."

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Reports from the IMD indicate that widespread light to moderate rainfall has already occurred across several parts of southern India, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas. The IMD will continue to monitor the situation closely and issue further updates on rainfall activity and weather patterns in the coming days. The early signs of rainfall have been welcomed by farmers and local communities who depend heavily on the northeast monsoon for their water supply and agricultural needs.

Contrary to IMD's announcement of withdrawal of SW monsoon, climatologist Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of Weather, a weather blog said that withdrawal will be completed in the next two days." As the withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon has begun with the change in winds, the season will officially be over by October 17. Mumbai is currently undergoing a seasonal transition with the reversal of winds. As the monsoon withdraws by October 17, the city may witness a few evening thunderstorms between October 16 and 19," said Kapadia.

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