Mumbai witnessed pre-monsoon showers on Wednesday morning as moderate rain and cloudy skies swept pockets of the city. As the city braces for the onset of monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also sounded a yellow alert, indicating the likelihood of thunderstorms coupled with lightning, in Mumbai as well as the neighbouring districts of Thane and Raigad from Thursday. After reeling under sultry, humid conditions on Tuesday when the maximum temperatures soared to nearly 36 degree Celcius in the city as well as the suburbs, Mumbai witnessed moderate showers across pockets of the city on Wednesday morning with some areas also witnessing waterlogging. Pockets of Thane district also witnessed a drizzle during the same period. Data furnished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) showed the western suburbs and island city received the heaviest rain followed by the eastern suburbs. Between 7.00 am and 8.00 am, the station at Oshiwara in the western suburbs registered 26 mm of rain, followed by Kandivali Fire Station at 9 mm, Kandivali Workshop at 6 mm, BKC Fire Station at 5 mm and K/East Ward Office at 4 mm. In the western suburbs, Dadar Fire Station received 20 mm of rain, followed by Wadala Fire Station at 17 mm, F/North Ward Office at 16 mm, and Rawali Camp at 19 mm. The eastern suburbs, meanwhile, recorded showers below the range of 5 mm. According to meteorologists, Mumbai is witnessing downpours owing to pre-monsoon conditions as well as the presence of westerlies which build up the moisture levels, leading to cloud formation. Having advanced into Karnataka on Sunday, senior IMD scientists have indicated that the Southwest monsoon is likely to enter Maharashtra and Goa this week. In Mumbai, scientists indicated that the conditions for the onset of monsoon are favourable between June 8-11. However, the onset date of monsoon in Mumbai is yet to be announced. Typically, the official date of monsoon onset in Mumbai is around June 10-11. However, the onset was delayed by two weeks last year owing to several weather systems including Cyclone Biparjoy.
