Heavy rain sweeps off MMR a day after Diwali, more in store, predicts IMD

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain activity is here to stay with the weather bureau forecasting light to moderate rainfall alongside thunderstorm activity until at least October 25. In neighbouring districts of Raigad and Ratnagiri, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert until Saturday.

Sources in the weather bureau said the rain forecast is likely to bring respite from the increasing AQI levels over the next few days.

On Tuesday, amid Diwali festivities, the city woke up to a blanket of haze as the air quality index touched 212 which is categorised as ‘poor’ while in some pockets such as BKC, Colaba and Mazgaon, the AQI surpassed the ‘very poor’ category crossing the 300-mark. Furthermore, the city sweltered as the maximum temperatures in Mumbai’s suburbs touched 35 degrees Celsius.

However, relief came in during the evening as heavy downpour swept the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), starting with Navi Mumbai. At 5pm on Tuesday, the IMD sounded a nowcast yellow warning, stating the possibility of light to moderate showers coupled with gusty winds and lightning. As the evening progressed, rain activity intensified and spread through the neighbouring districts of Thane and Mumbai, taking citizens by surprise. The showers battered the region even as the IMD declared the withdrawal of southwest monsoon from Mumbai on OCtober 10.

Speaking to The Indian Express, weather experts attributed the unseasonal showers to the northeast monsoon currents, which is responsible for rainfall in the southeastern pockets of India, including Tamil Nadu.

“Currently, the northeast monsoon currents are pumping in moisture in the region. Along with this moisture, localised conversion and high day time heating are creating favourable conditions for thunderstorm-like activities during the evening,” said Athreya Shetty, an independent weather observer.

Shetty added that thunderstorms are likely to continue in the region until the end of October. In its forecast bulletin for the region, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts until Saturday, while stating that Mumbai and Thane districts will also experience light to moderate rainfall between Thursday and Saturday.
So far, Mumbai’s island city division has already clocked in 88mm rain in October— a surplus of over 22mm from the average normal for the observatory. The unseasonal showers, this October, comes after the city experienced above normal monsoon season between June and September, clocking in 3,104 mm rain.