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

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 3023 mm was only 2867 per cent of that received in the same period last year 105420 mm and only 1303 per cent of the annual average rainfall 2319 mmAs of Tuesday morning the Santacruz weather station and its Colaba counterpart recorded 3023 mm and 14270 mm of rainfall so far this month The rainfall recorded by the former observatory is considered the official figure for MumbaiFrom June 23 mdash the day the monsoon season began according to the IMD mdash till August 25 Santacruz recorded 221530 mm mdash 9553 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 mdash 236420 mm 10195 per cent of the AAR The city received most of its rainfall of the season in July mdash 13993 mm 6034 per cent of the AARpopcorn number2200 mm to 2500 mm descAverage monsoon rainfall that Mumbai receives classDefaultRajesh Kapadia founder Vagaries of the Weather said ldquoLow 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 wonrsquot be above average Although it shouldnrsquot be a worry watersupplywise because the cityrsquos watersupplying lakes are around 95 per cent full with enough water to last around nine months That should suffice for the time till next monsoon rdquopopcorn number21609 mm descRainfall that Mumbai recorded since monsoon arrived this year classDefaultImpacts of El NinoBikram Singh chief of the IMDrsquos Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai told midday 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 monsoonpopcorn number286 mm descAugust rainfall recorded in Santacruz till 19th against the typical monthly normal of 5609 mm classDefaultThe departure percentage mdash the percentage difference between actual rainfall and the historical baseline average rainfall expected for that timeframe mdash for the cityrsquos seasonal rainfall stood at 1990 per cent positive on Tuesday morning meaning that the rainfall received is above the forecasted averagepopcorn number14270 mm descRainfall received in Colaba this month till Aug 25 classDefaultIMDrsquos forecast for weekThursday Very likely light to moderate rainFriday Very likely light to moderate rainSaturday Very likely light to moderate rainSunday Very likely light to moderate rainGenerally cloudy sky with occasional spells of light to moderate rain in city and suburbsMaximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 32 and 26 degrees CIMDrsquos forecast is valid till 8 am on FridayRainfall figures for ongoing seasonColaba176660 mm8433 of AARDeparture 63 August 1 to 25th morning 1427 mmAugust 1 to 25th morning 2025 5909mmSantacruz22153 mm9553 of AARDeparture 199 August 1 to 25th morning 3023 mmAugust 1 to 25th morning 2025 105420 mm