Monsoon Set to Make Earliest-Ever Splash in Mumbai: IMD Issues Alerts

Mumbai is on the brink of a historic weather event as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announces that conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to reach the city within the next three days—potentially marking the earliest onset in recorded history.

Key Highlights:

The southwest monsoon has surged ahead of schedule, entering Maharashtra just a day after its early arrival in Kerala, and is now poised to cover Mumbai and other regions by May 28.

If the monsoon arrives as predicted, it will break the previous record for Mumbai’s earliest onset, which stood at May 29 (set in 1956, 1962, and 1971).

Mumbai and Thane remain under a yellow alert until May 28, signalling moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over the coming days.

Heavy pre-monsoon showers have already lashed the city, with IMD observatories in Colaba and Santacruz recording significant rainfall over the weekend.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg districts, warning of very heavy rain as a depression over the Arabian Sea moves inland.

Maharashtra has recorded its wettest May in 35 years, with rainfall 844% above the seasonal average up to May 23.

The rapid advance of the monsoon—reaching Maharashtra within 24 hours of Kerala—is a rare occurrence, last seen in 1990.

The rain-bearing system is expected to continue spreading across Maharashtra, Karnataka (including Bengaluru), Andhra Pradesh, and parts of the northeast over the next three days.

What to Expect:

Mumbai residents should brace for a wet week ahead, with increased chances of waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and localised flooding in low-lying areas.

Authorities urge citizens to stay updated with official advisories and take necessary precautions, especially in districts under red and orange alerts.

Source: The Economic Times