The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast ‘extremely heavy rain’ between Saturday and Monday in Mumbai advising people to stay indoors.
The forecast translates into a possibility of up to 200mm or more rain during a 24-hour period. Under the weather department’s classification, 15.6mm to 64.4mm of rain is considered ‘moderate’, 64.5mm to 115.5mm is ‘heavy’, 115.6mm to 204.4mm is ‘very heavy’ and more than 204.5mm is ‘extreme’.
The warning issued on Thursday stated: “The widespread rainfall activity is likely to continue till June 10. It is very likely to extend to north coastal Maharashtra, including Mumbai from Friday. Extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in these regions is also very likely during this period.”
The weather advisory issued for June 9 and 10 on Thursday read, “As rainfall activity is likely to enhance from June 9, people are advised to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible during the period and also watch for weather updates from Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.”
KS Hosalikar, deputy director general western region India Meteorological Department, said, “Apart from the monsoon current there is a weather system over central Maharashtra, which is being pulled closer to an offshore trough (another weather system) extending from south Konkan to north Kerala, allowing more moisture incursions over the west coast. During the confluence of these two weather systems, the heavy rainfall activity is expected.”
In July 2005, large parts of the city were flooded and many people lost their lives when Mumbai recorded 900 mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
While the city recorded no rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, gusty winds lashed the city Thursday morning. Santacruz, representative of the suburbs, recorded 35.8mm between 3.30am and 8.30am on Thursday; Colaba (south Mumbai) recorded 18.8mm.
From 8.30am onward, intermittent showers were recorded across the city with a few spells of heavy rain. While Santacruz recorded 39mm rain, 27.6mm was recorded in Colaba between 8.30am and 5.30pm.