Mumbai and suburbs have received heavy rains last night and continue this morning as well. Santacruz recorded 60mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am and Colaba still higher with 77mm downpour. Heavy rain and thundershower continue this morning over Mumbai and suburbs and are expected to go on for the day with short breaks in between. These appear to be overlapping showers of pre-monsoon handing over the baton to proper southwest monsoon. With this monsoon seems to have arrived over the Mumbai and suburbs 2 days ahead of schedule, the normal date being 11th June.
Invariably, moderate to heavy rains precede the onset of monsoon over Mumbai giving a resounding start to the most awaited annual event. Mumbai has been receiving decent showers almost daily since 01st June. The cumulative rainfall for the first 9 days of this month for Mumbai has climbed to 195.6mm, as recorded at the representative observatory of Santacruz. This is in excess of 123.4mm and accounts for nearly 40% of the monthly rainfall of 493.1mm.
It looks as if Mumbai is heading for a deluge and during the next 7 days, the sky is going to open up drenching most areas of the city and suburbs equitably. Heavy rains are expected for the next 48 hours and thereafter copious rains will lash the entire region between 12th and 15th June covering Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai, Alibag, and Raigad. Heavy rains will strike most parts of Konkan between 12th and 15th June.
Presently a cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea off the Konkan coast is generating the pulse of rain and clouds. This will get reinforced with a low-pressure area forming shortly over the Bay of Bengal. The monsoon surge will pick up from 11th June onward and keep accentuating reaching peak intensity between 13th and 15th June. Heavy to extremely heavy rains are expected to lead to flood-like situations and inundating coastal and low-lying areas of Mumbai and suburbs between 12th and 15th June. High tide with a surge of 4meter or more in the afternoon hours (2-3 pm) will worsen the situation further.
Upcoming spells of heavy rains over and around Mumbai will paralyze routine life. This includes disruption in rail, road, and air traffic and also affecting communication and connectivity. Relief measures need to be in place to secure assets and lives.
