In some respite from the summer heat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that Mumbai and its neighbouring districts are set to receive light drizzles alongside thundershowers in the upcoming week. While no warning has been issued for Mumbai currently, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert for the adjoining regions of Thane and Raigad between March 31 (Monday) and April 1 (Tuesday). On Friday, data from the IMD showed that the Santacruz observatory logged 33.6 degrees celsius while the Colaba coastal observatory recorded 31 degrees. In its forecast bulletin, the weather bureau has said that temperatures are slated to rise in the upcoming days with the maximum temperatures likely to cross 36 degrees celsius over the weekend. However, the sudden spike in temperatures will be accompanied by light drizzles and thundershowers in the region from Monday. According to meteorologists, while the weekend will remain clear, Mumbai is slated to witness light drizzles alongside cloudy skies on Monday followed by thunderstorms and rainfall on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Mumbai's neighbouring districts in Thane and Raigad are likely to witness heavier rain activity with the IMD sounding a yellow alert between Monday and Tuesday owing to the likelihood of thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and light to moderate rainfall as well as gusty winds at the speed of 30 - 40 km/ph in isolated places. The IMD has issued yellow alerts in several districts of Maharashtra in the coming days. Following the spell of showers, maximum temperatures are expected to cool off to 33 degrees after April 2. While uncommon, Mumbai is no stranger to pre-monsoon showers during the summer months. IMD data shows that Mumbai logged nearly 17 mm rain in March 2023, making it the wettest March ever recorded. Prior to this, Santacruz observatory logged 10 mm rain in 2016, followed by 13 mm rainfall in 2015.
