Mumbai in for heavy rains over the weekend; IMD warns of flash flood risks in low-lying areas

Mumbaikars likely woke up to the splashy sounds of rain this morning as heavy showers began lashing the city early this morning. With forecasts indicating that the wet conditions would prevail throughout the day, many school and office-goers are staying in for the day. But those that must venture out, be warned that the sight of waterlogging and horrible traffic are waiting to greet you.

Residents have been experiencing the true essence of the Mumbai monsoons (read flooding, traffic snarls and delayed trains) over the last few days. In just the 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM today, the city’s Santacruz observatory has recorded 116 mm of rainfall while the one in Colaba has seen 86 mm of rains in the duration.

The India Meteorological Department’s forecasts suggest that this wet spell is here to stay. Cloudy skies with heavy rains are going to be the norm in Mumbai at least until the coming Monday (July 15). Its neighbouring districts will also witness similar conditions.

Accordingly, a yellow watch (meaning ‘be updated’) has been issued over Mumbai and Palghar, indicating chances of heavy rainfall today, with Mumbai going on orange alert (meaning ‘be prepared’) from tomorrow. Thane and Raigad are already under an orange alert due to the possibility of heavy to very heavy rains.

The intense downpours are attributed to a cyclonic circulation and the monsoon trough over Maharashtra. And this is a sign of the monsoon intensifying for the state.

A high tide is expected at around 4 PM today, putting authorities in Mumbai and surrounding areas on alert. Experts are closely monitoring the situation and have issued warnings for flash floods, waterlogging and road traffic to ensure public safety. But due to train tracks flooding and flights experiencing delays due to inclement weather, people travelling by these means will face inconvenience.

On the bright side, daytime temperatures have dropped nearly two degrees below normal at 28.6°C, and this trend is expected to continue for the next few days.

Also Read: Mumbai rains trigger waterlogging, delays in public transport services