After an unusually long dry spell, Mumbai finally woke up to steady showers on June 21, bringing much-needed relief from the lingering wait for a proper monsoon.
Several parts of the city received moderate rainfall in the early hours, with Ghatkopar recording around 24 mm, Worli 25 mm, Lower Parel 21 mm and Chembur close to 20 mm. In neighbouring Thane, residents stepped out to enjoy the fresh petrichor after weeks of dry weather.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for June 22 and 23, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated places. It also said conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further into Maharashtra around June 23.
Independent weather observers noted that rainbands had started developing over Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while isolated storm cells were forming over the Western Ghats and moving towards the coast. They also observed that the layer of dry air that had been suppressing rainfall over the city was gradually weakening.
Despite the monsoon’s arrival over Mumbai weeks ago, rainfall remained scarce because of dry air present in the middle levels of the atmosphere. Meteorologists explain that this dry air mixes with rising moist air, weakening cloud development and preventing many rain-bearing clouds from producing showers.
The prolonged dry conditions had a visible impact on the city’s water reserves, with reservoir levels dropping to around 9-10 per cent by mid-June. Some areas also recorded a rainfall deficit of more than 90 per cent, while the Colaba weather station received only about 4.3 mm of rain during the early part of the month.
Experts say rainbands are organised clusters of thunderstorms that can sustain themselves for longer periods as they continue drawing moisture from the Arabian Sea, resulting in widespread rainfall. At the same time, localised storm cells generated over the Western Ghats by moisture-laden winds are expected to move towards the coast and contribute to rainfall across Mumbai.
South Mumbai was among the first areas to receive showers, mainly because of its proximity to the Arabian Sea, allowing moisture-laden winds to reach the region sooner than other parts of the city.
Weather experts expect rainfall activity to increase further over the coming days, with heavier and more widespread showers likely around June 25 and 26 as the southwest monsoon strengthens across Maharashtra.
After weeks of subdued conditions, the city now appears set for a more active monsoon phase, bringing relief from the prolonged dry spell.