Not before October, says Met dept; expect a wet Ganeshotsav this year
Not before October, says Met dept; expect a wet Ganeshotsav this yearAlthough the Hindu calendar generally indicates the end of monsoons by Nariyal Purnima (August 24, this year), the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the rains will continue till the beginning of next month. The forecast also pointed towards heavy showers in the next 48 hours in the city.
In anticipation of the heavy showers that the city might have to face in the next two days, IMD has sent out a warning to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), regarding appropriate arrangements to be made for the Ganeshotsav festival that will begin this Saturday.
"This year, we have had normal monsoon showers and in all likelihood, we are expecting the rains to end by the first week of October. Unlike last year, this year monsoon in the city has been normal. Today, heavy rainfall is expected in some parts of north Mumbai and we have alerted the BMC to be prepared with all precautionary measures," said Dr R V Sharma, deputy director, Met (western region).
Speaking to MiD DAY Medha Khole, director (weather forecasting) at IMD Pune, explained that under normal circumstances the Southwest monsoon begins to withdraw from western parts of Rajasthan around the first week of September. But due to continuation of Easterly flow over northwest India, the withdrawal of monsoon is not expected to happen until the end of September.
"In the next 48 hours we can expect heavy showers over Maharashtra. While Mumbai will experience the end of monsoon starting from September 10, the rainfall is likely to continue in other parts of Maharashtra till end of this month," said Khole.
RAINFALL
Rainfall observed u00a0in last 24 hours u00a0(in mm): Colaba: 12.4u00a0
Santacruz: 32.6u00a0
