The moderate to heavy rain showers that lashed Mumbai during the first week of September soon faded. Last eight days witnessed only 2.2 mm of rain out of which six days were completely dry.
September had commenced with a spell of good rains that summed up to 219 mm of rain during first five days of the month. The rain activity did indicate a possible coverage of monthly average rainfall of 312 mm but as September approached, the reduced intensity and frequency of rain left the city dry. The financial capital has just received 285 mm of rain during September this year.
The rainfall for first five days in September was 111 mm, 43 mm, 27 mm, 6 mm and 27 mm respectively. However, the intensity reduced thereafter and the double digit rainfall confined to only two more days after this spell. The rain was 12 mm on both 9th and 21st September.
Seeing the rainfall pattern for the first week of September, Skymet Meteorology Division in India forecasted a good monsoon for Mumbai. It even anticipated that September would cover up for the August rain deficit which was 13% for Mumbai this year. However, monsoon in September was even worse than August.
The dry spell witnessed by Mumbai can be attributed to the withdrawing southwest monsoon that commences in September. Moreover, since Mumbai is situated at latitude of 19°0, it remains unaffected by the northeast monsoon.
Monsoon in Mumbai
The monsoon this year has witnessed a distinctive pattern and while June received very scanty rainfall it was compensated by July wherein July received the highest rainfall in the last 63 years. August received less rain as it witnessed a 13% rain deficit. However, monsoon picked pace in the last two days of August and first week of September.