Monsoon hits Mumbai two days ahead of schedule, heavy rains lash city

Heavy rainfall has been also been reported across Navi Mumbai, Thane, Panvel, Kalyan-Dombivali since the wee hours of Wednesday and it is expected to continue till the evening hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘Orange’ alert (alert asking people to stay prepared) for the city on Wednesday.

“Conditions are favourable for the onset of monsoon over Mumbai. The Konkan coast is also likely to receive heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall in the coming days,” an official from Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, said.

According to the latest impact-based forecast issued by the IMD, the city will continue to receive 20 mm to 30 mm rainfall every hour till late afternoon on Wednesday.

Due to heavy rains since last evening, areas in south Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali, Thane and Navi Mumbai could experience inundation and flood-like situations in the coming few hours, the IMD has warned.

Waterlogging is likely to occur in low-lying areas. Smooth vehicular and train movements will be affected, with waterlogged roads set to slow down traffic. Mumbaikars have been warned to restrict their movements for now.

Monsoon, this year, has arrived two days ahead of its schedule in Mumbai, the regular date being June 11.

Except for the onset over Kerala on June 3, monsoon has so far advanced across the southern peninsula, Maharashtra and northeast India before its usual schedule.

As per the Met department’s predictions, monsoon is expected to move over more parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, some parts of Odisha and more parts of West Bengal in the next two days.

The IMD has warned of very heavy rainfall over the Konkan coast and Goa till June 12.