Mumbai rains: Pre-monsoon showers lowers temperature, raise humidity

A layer of clouds is seen over the city skyline in Worli. Pic/Ashish Raje

After a brief spell of cloudy-yet-dry weather, pre-monsoon showers have brought some relief from the heat. However, humidity still lingers. Meteorologists have warned that while rains are likely over the weekend, rising humidity levels will continue to cause discomfort across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai, part of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is expected to witness light to moderate rain showers and isolated thunderstorms through the weekend.

While Mumbai itself remains free of any immediate weather alerts, nearby districts such as Thane and Raigad have been placed under a ‘yellow alert' due to the forecast of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and moderate rainfall. These advisories are in effect until Friday.

"Humidity is rising in Mumbai as there's a lot of moisture present over the West Coast," said Rushikesh Agre, an independent weather enthusiast, known as ‘Mumbai Rains' on X. "The city has been experiencing persistent cloud cover without rain, which has led to high humidity levels. This pattern is expected to continue for the next three to four days, and from May 21, Mumbai and MMR will see daily rain accompanied by thunderstorms," Agre added.

Meanwhile, climatologist Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of the Weather, a private weather blog, also noted the shift in conditions. "Mumbai can expect isolated thunderstorms with daily rainfall not exceeding 10 mm. In Pune, afternoon thunderstorms are likely over the next few days, with daytime temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius and rainfall ranging between 10 and 20 mm per day," he said.

"No extreme summer heat is expected across Maharashtra. Cities like Mumbai and Pune may see isolated to moderate thunderstorms with manageable daytime temperatures…No major heatwave is forecast for the next 10 days," Kapadia told mid-day.

What exactly is a yellow alert?

A yellow alert indicates moderate to severe rainfall conditions, warning potential disruptions from weather conditions. Areas under a yellow warning will experience rainfall between 7.5 mm and 15 mm within the span of an hour.