The landfall of cyclone Nisarga and high-tide on Wednesday at the same time, could severely waterlog low-lying areas in the city. The BMC has kept hundreds of schools ready to shift residents to if necessary. "We have kept community halls and cultural centres in the university campus at Kalina along with a few civic schools ready," said Ashok Khairnar, assistant commissioner of H East ward. In Raigad district, which is expected to get the full force of the cyclone, 19,000 people have already been evacuated to safer areas.

Heavy rain and high-tide have always been a troublesome combination for the city, where many areas are below sea level. On Wednesday, the civic corporation will have to deal with the strong wind also. As per the prediction of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai, there will be heavy to very heavy rain from early morning in the city, and the landfall time is around 11.30 am. There is a high-tide at 10.15 am when the level of the sea will rise to 4.6 metres. Due to the storm surge, the sea level will increase by another 1 to 2 metres and will inundate the low lying areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane districts.