After a brief disruption caused by cyclone Aila that hit the Bay of Bengal recently,the south-west monsoon has started inching forward again,spreading into the interiors of Karnataka,the India Meteorology Department (IMD) confirmed on Wednesday. The IMD also stated that the current weather condition in Mumbai was favourable for pre-monsoon showers. Mumbai has come under the influence of south west to westerly winds,which are bringing in a lot of moisture. These winds have kept humidity high,especially post-evenings. Thats why the night atmosphere was so sultry on Tuesday. The temperature has consistently been two to three degrees above normal and humidity is high across the western coast. Such conditions,if persist,would enhance the development of thundershower, K Sathidevi,director of IMD,Mumbai,said. She also said that already,development of thunderclouds have been evident over Mumbai since Tuesday. On Wednesday early morning,the city recorded a maximum temperature,almost touching 36°C in Colaba and 35°C in Santacruz. The minimum temperature was high,as usually expected this season,at 29.1°C in the city and the suburbs. The relative humidity was 81 per cent in Colaba and 70 per cent in Santacruz. IMD officials said that several regions on the south Konkan coast and the southern parts of Mahatashtra experienced heavy pre-monsoon showers since Tuesday. While the showers were said to have reduced on Wednesday,IMD expected the pre monsoon activities to continue and become more widespread. Sathidevi said,In Mumbai,sultry weather is bound to continue and there is a possibility of thunderstorms especially in the evenings or nights. According to the official website of IMD,the current meteorological conditions and analysis of latest numerical weather prediction models suggest a further strengthening of pressure gradient over Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal and also the development of a low pressure area over north Bay of Bengal around June 5. This may lead to further progress of monsoon in west coast and east India, it stated.
