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All the high tide dates this year (above 5 m) fall between January and March
Unlike last year, when people flocked to Marine Drive to get a glimpse of huge waves lashing against the rocks on high tide dates, there will be no such sights this time round.
This year the non-monsoon months of January, February and March will witness all the high tide dates that are
above 5 metres, according to the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) data.
S S Shinde, joint municipal commissioner, in charge of disaster management cell, said, "Luckily this year we don't have high tide dates like last monsoon. Not only the height of tides, but also the number of days are less in this monsoon".
According to the list sent to the BMC by the MPT, this monsoon will see 26 days of high tide dates, measuring between 4.5 metres and 4.95 metres of height. Through the year, there will be 33 days of high tides. Last year, the highest high tide of the monsoon was on July 24 at 5.05 metres. While this year highest high tide has come and gone on February 1, measuring 5.18 metres.
An annual problem
Climate experts say that thanks to global warming and urbanisation, high tide of more than 5 meters will continue for another couple of days.
Prof Kapil Gupta said, "My analysis of the past 10 years rainfall in Mumbai shows that on days when the city got flooded, the intensity of rainfall was 72 mm/h, excluding 26/7 when it was 190 mm/h. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified we are going to witness more intense rainfalls. We should, therefore, revamp the drainage systems, preserve the existing holding ponds and create new ones."
Shinde adds, "We still need to be cautious as there are 14 days when the tide will be more than 4.5 meters.
Any tide beyond 4.5 meters accompanied with heavy rains is dangerous and can cause quite damage. Like last year, we will be prepared and ensure that Mumbaikars are safe."
| High tide data |
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The high tide recorded during the 26/7 floods, caused by a record rainfall of 944 mm within 24 hours, was 4.48 metres. More than 400 people died.
This year:
Total number of high tide days: 33
High tides during monsoon: 26
Highest tide of the year: February 1 at 0129 hours: 5.18 metres
February 2 at 0208 hours: 5.15 metres
Highest tide of monsoon: August 12 at 1344 hours: 4.95 metres
August 11 at 1303 hours: 4.92 metres | | 
