Mumbai could see earliest ever monsoon arrival: IMD

MUMBAI: Mumbai could see its earliest-ever monsoon arrival, with IMD Sunday stating that conditions are favourable for onset within the next three days. The current record for the city's earliest monsoon onset is May 29, logged in 1956, 1962 and 1971. If the weather bureau's forecast holds, 2025 could break that record. As of May 25, southwest monsoon reached Devgad in Konkan - nearly 10 days ahead of its normal onset date of June 5 for Maharashtra and Goa.

"Favourable synoptic conditions suggest that monsoon could advance further into more parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, over next three days," said IMD's Mumbai chief Shubhangi Bhute. IMD officials said this marks the earliest monsoon onset over Maharashtra since 1990, when it arrived on May 20. In the city, rains continued over the weekend with IMD's Colaba and Santacruz observatories recording 35mm and 26.8mm rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30am Sunday.

IMD said the system bringing rain to the state is a depression over Madhya Maharashtra , which weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area and was located over south Madhya Maharashtra and nearby parts of Marathwada and North Interior Karnataka as of 8.30am on May 25. It is expected to move slowly eastward over the next 24 hours and weaken further.

Additionally, an upper air trough (a weather system that supports rain) stretches from east-central Arabian Sea to north Odisha, passing over central Maharashtra and nearby regions. Due to these weather patterns, rain is expected to continue across Maharashtra for next 5-6 days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places, especially in Konkan and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra.

A wet week lies ahead for the city. A yellow alert remains in place for both Mumbai and Thane, warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds at isolated spots. An orange alert has been issued for Raigad on May 26, indicating the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall.