Showers to cool Mumbai this weekend

A man transports bananas on a cart amid rainfall, at Mahim. File pic/Ashish Raje

After a long break, monsoon rain is expected to return to the island city of Mumbai and neighbouring Thane over the coming weekend. This will also bring down the mercury and give the much-needed relief to citizens.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for both cities for Saturday and Sunday, as there is a likelihood of heavy rainfall at isolated places. For the past 10 days, people have been living in discomfort due to hot and humid conditions, and the weekend showers will give them some relief.

Speaking to mid-day, an IMD official said, "Once it starts raining, we will have a relief from [high] temperature. It is expected to drop to 31 degrees Celsius once there is continuous rainfall." On Wednesday, the temperature recorded in the city was around 33 degrees Celsius.

Over the next few days, thunder and lightning, accompanied by moderately heavy rainfall as well as isolated heavy rainfall is expected in the interiors of Maharashtra.

The IMD added that July 10 onwards, weather models are suggesting good rainfall activity across the state. "A low pressure is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal, because of which the westerlies will also be strengthened, causing good rainfall along the coast."