Mumbai rains: Santacruz records 2,215 mm since monsoon onset, IMD predicts more showers

Pedestrians enjoy a peaceful afternoon at Marine Drive on Wednesday. PIC/ASHISH RAJE

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated light to moderate rainfall for Mumbai and the neighbouring Palghar and Thane districts this week.

According to IMD data, rainfall received from August 1 to 25 (302.3 mm) was only 28.67 per cent of that received in the same period last year (1054.20 mm) and only 13.03 per cent of the annual average rainfall (2319 mm).

As of Tuesday morning, the Santacruz weather station and its Colaba counterpart recorded 302.3 mm and 142.70 mm of rainfall so far this month. The rainfall recorded by the former observatory is considered the official figure for Mumbai.

From June 23 - the day the monsoon season began, according to the IMD - till August 25, Santacruz recorded 2215.30 mm - 95.53 per cent of the total annual average rainfall (AAR) of 2319 mm. The figure shows a major deficit in comparison to rainfall recorded until the same day last year - 2364.20 mm (101.95 per cent of the AAR). The city received most of its rainfall of the season in July - 1399.3 mm (60.34 per cent of the AAR).

[popcorn number="2,200 mm to 2,500 mm" desc="Average monsoon rainfall that Mumbai receives" class="Default"]

Rajesh Kapadia, founder, Vagaries of the Weather, said, "Low pressure has formed in the Bay of Bengal. Rainfall may not be as strong in Mumbai as expected. I expect that August and September will see limited rain, which may match the normal, but it won't be above average. Although it shouldn't be a worry water-supply-wise, because the city's water-supplying lakes are around 95 per cent full, with enough water to last around nine months. That should suffice for the time till next monsoon "

[popcorn number="2160.9 mm" desc="Rainfall that Mumbai recorded since monsoon arrived this year" class="Default"]

Impacts of El Nino

Bikram Singh, chief of the IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai, told mid-day on August 16 that August and September may record the impacts of El Nino, showing weaker rainfall; Rajesh Kapadia, an independent weather expert, also told this newspaper on Tuesday that rainfall figures may not improve drastically for the rest of the monsoon.

[popcorn number="286 mm" desc="August rainfall recorded in Santacruz till 19th against the typical monthly normal of 560.9 mm" class="Default"]

The departure percentage - the percentage difference between actual rainfall and the historical baseline average rainfall expected for that timeframe - for the city's seasonal rainfall stood at 19.90 per cent positive on Tuesday morning, meaning that the rainfall received is above the forecasted average.

[popcorn number="142.70 mm" desc="Rainfall received in Colaba this month till Aug 25" class="Default"]

IMD's forecast for week

Thursday: Very likely light to moderate rain

Friday: Very likely light to moderate rain

Saturday: Very likely light to moderate rain

Sunday: Very likely light to moderate rain

'Generally cloudy sky with occasional spells of light to moderate rain in city and suburbs.
'Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 32 and 26 degrees C.
'IMD's forecast is valid till 8 am on Friday.

Rainfall figures for ongoing season

Colaba
1766.60 mm
84.33% of AAR
Departure: 6.3% (+)
August 1 to 25th morning: 142.7 mm
August 1 to 25th morning 2025: 590.9mm

Santacruz
2215.3 mm
95.53% of AAR
Departure: 19.9% (+)
August 1 to 25th morning: 302.3 mm
August 1 to 25th morning 2025: 1054.20 mm