Mumbai: Heavy Rainfall and Early Monsoon Onset

A cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea will bring heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds to Mumbai from May 21 to 24. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department predicts that rain and thunderstorms will provide relief from the intense heat in Delhi on Wednesday, May 21.

The minimum temperature will likely settle around 28 degrees Celsius, while the maximum may reach about 39 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, the temperature climbed to 41.8 degrees Celsius, and rising humidity levels caused discomfort for people outdoors. The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) recently conducted a study that highlighted three key trends across North India: very warm nights are becoming more common, relative humidity is increasing, and heat exposure is intensifying in densely populated, urban, and economically vital areas like Delhi, which researchers classified under the high to very high heat risk category.

Thunderstorms and Pre-Monsoon Rains Disrupt Mumbai, Heavier Showers in Suburbs

On Tuesday, rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning hit Mumbai, slowing down traffic in the financial capital. According to news agency PTI, officials reported that the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai experienced more intense pre-monsoon rain than the city. The weather department stated that a cyclonic circulation will likely form over the east-central Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast, causing parts of Maharashtra to experience heavy rain, thunder, and gusty winds between May 21 and 24.

A low-pressure area will likely form over the same region around May 22 and move northwards, intensifying further. This circulation will increase rainfall activity over Maharashtra over the next three days. Met department official Shubhangi Bhute said, “Heavy rainfall with thunder may occur in some areas, along with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph or possibly higher at isolated locations.” The low-pressure system will affect regions including south Konkan, Mumbai, and south central Maharashtra.