Rain relief likely in Mumbai from next week: Weathermen

MUMBAI: Mumbaikars can expect relief from sultry weather from the coming week as officials expect “on and off showers” to resume on June 29. The intensity is likely to increase around July 3-5, weathermen said.
The southwest monsoons officially made an entry on June 15, but Mumbai is yet to witness a continuous downpour. Last week, while there was a day of significant rain, it did not help catchment area lakes much.
The seven lakes that supply water to Mumbai have only 9.14% (1.32 lakh million litres) of the required quantum as of June 27.This is slightly higher compared to the water stock of 4.95% (71 thousand million litres) last year on the same day. But in 2017, the water stock was 2.70 lakh million litres (18.70%) of the required quantum.
Mumbai gets water from Bhatsa, Tulsi and Vihar, Middle Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa and Upper Vaitarna. BMC supplies around 3,500 million litres to Mumbai daily.
Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, meteorology and climate change, Skymet, said, “From Sunday night or Monday, light to moderate rain is expected in Mumbai again, with one or two intense spells. It could be 20-30mm. The intensity is likely to increase around July 3-5. This is due to a feeble trough over Konkan and Goa, which may move northwards. Generally the onset of monsoon is accompanied by good rain over the city, but in the past few days it was intense in parts of Goa and Ratnagiri.”
The rainfall recorded so far (June 1-27) by IMD Colaba was 387.7mm, which is 84.5mm below normal, while IMD Santacruz reported 317.2mm, which is 105.7mm below normal.
Weathermen pointed out that the deficit was due due to absence of significant rain since the onset of monsoon. The first fortnight of June saw above normal rain due to Cyclone Nisaraga and the active monsoon surge during the onset.