Maharashtra monsoon withdrawal begins as Mumbai braces for October heat and scattered rain

Friends walk on Marine Drive using handkerchiefs to protect themselves from the blistering heat on Saturday. Pic/Atul Kamble

The southwest monsoon has begun withdrawing from parts of Maharashtra and is likely to retreat further over the next two to three days, even as Mumbai and other parts of Konkan could receive isolated to scattered rainfall between October 6 and 9, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In its bulletin issued on Saturday, the IMD said the southwest monsoon had withdrawn from some parts of Maharashtra, with the withdrawal line passing through Brahmapuri, Parbhani, Baramati and Harnai. Conditions are likely to become favourable for further withdrawal from most parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha, and some more parts of Madhya Maharashtra during the next two to three days.

Despite the advancing withdrawal, the weather is not expected to turn completely dry across Maharashtra immediately. The IMD has forecast isolated to scattered rainfall over Konkan and Goa and Madhya Maharashtra from October 6 to 9. The IMD has also warned of hot and humid conditions over Konkan and Goa from October 3 to 5.

The decline in rainfall activity is being accompanied by increasing dry-air intrusion into Maharashtra. An anticyclonic circulation over Rajasthan and adjoining areas is helping push dry air towards the state.

IMD scientist S D Sanap said two important conditions are considered before declaring monsoon withdrawal - rainfall should remain absent for consecutive days and the prevailing southwesterly monsoon winds should weaken or reverse. "The main thing is rainfall. It should not rain for two to three consecutive days," Sanap said.

6-9 Oct
When Mumbai can expect showers