Thunderstorm with moderate rain likely in Mumbai from August 19: IMD

IMD Mumbai director Sunil Kamble told The Indian Express, “Since there has been no rain in the past eight days, the temperatures have risen and there is also wind discontinuity. There is also a low pressure area near Bangladesh.

Owing to these factors, we are expecting thunderstorm activity in Mumbai and neighbouring areas.”

According to Kamble, the thunderstorm activity may also pull in moderate showers for some duration in Mumbai. “Even though there is no alert in Mumbai, owing to wind discontinuity which will bring thunderstorms, we have issued a yellow alert across districts of Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra as well as Marathwada,” he added.

In its forecast bulletin for the next five days, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert in Raigad and Ratnagiri over the weekend, while in several districts of Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha, the yellow alert has been issued throughout between Saturday and Tuesday.

Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather Services said, “From August 19, Mumbai and nearby areas may experience patchy showers. This is due to a low pressure area over the Arabian Sea, which may become well-marked. While it may bring heavy rain in Lakshadweep, Kerala, its impact may also spill into Mumbai and other coastal areas.”

For the metropolis, August is the second wettest month of the year when the city records an average of 566 mm rain.

So far, Mumbai has recorded 185 mm rain in the month, while 2,238 mm rain was recorded overall since the onset of monsoon in June. While the city received 347 mm rain in June this year, which is a deficit of 35 per cent from its monthly average, July brought in 1,706 mm rain, recording an excess of over 50 per cent.