Mumbai is likely to witness the arrival of the southwest monsoon within the next 48 hours, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several parts of Maharashtra.
The weather update comes as the monsoon continues to advance across western and central India. The IMD said conditions remain favourable for its further progress into additional parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, over the next two days. The forecast has prompted weather alerts for multiple regions and a warning for fishermen along the Maharashtra coast.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, the southwest monsoon has already advanced into more areas of Maharashtra and Telangana. It has also covered the remaining parts of Karnataka and extended into parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The IMD said the monsoon is expected to move further into the remaining parts of the central Arabian Sea, more areas of Maharashtra, the remaining regions of Telangana and Odisha, and additional parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar during the next 48 hours.
IMD forecasts heavy rainfall over Konkan
The weather department has forecast widespread to fairly widespread rainfall activity over parts of Maharashtra in the coming days due to strengthening westerly winds and the advancing monsoon system.
Heavy rainfall at isolated places is expected across the Konkan region between June 22 and June 26.
The IMD said parts of Madhya Maharashtra are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall during the same period.
In Marathwada, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds along with light to moderate rainfall are expected between June 22 and June 24.
Fishermen advised to stay off the sea
The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along the South Maharashtra-Goa coast from June 22 to June 26.
The department said squally weather conditions are likely, with wind speeds of 40-50 kmph and gusts reaching up to 60 kmph.
Warning over flooding and transport disruptions
The weather office cautioned that intense rainfall could trigger localised flooding and waterlogging in low-lying and urban areas.
It also warned of possible flash floods, disruptions to road, rail, air and ferry services, damage to standing crops and horticultural produce, and rough sea conditions along the coastline.
Residents have been advised to follow official traffic advisories, avoid vulnerable structures during storms, stay away from water bodies and take shelter in safe locations during adverse weather conditions.
On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, citing IMD forecasts, issued an Orange warning for Mumbai. The alert predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, moderate to intense spells of rain and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated locations over a three-hour period.
Several areas of Mumbai, including Bandra East, received pre-monsoon showers along with thunderstorms and lightning on Monday morning. While the rain brought relief from the heat, it also led to waterlogging and traffic snarls in some pockets of the city.