Southwest Monsoon May Overstay In Mumbai: Rains Extend Up To October Second Week
Mumbai and suburbs received heavy rainfall for the second consecutive day yesterday. Konkan & Goa, South Coastal Gujarat, and the Saurashtra region were deluged with monsoon bursts. Southern parts of Mumbai were worst affected and the northern ones, a shade better. Rains are likely to slow down now, albeit temporarily, till Friday. A good spell of rains may visit the capital town yet again later, thereby delaying the monsoon exit from the city.
Earlier, the normal date of monsoon withdrawal for Mumbai was 29th September. Following revision based on extended and latest data, the new date for the city was revised to 08th October in 2020. The monsoon has been overshooting even the revised dates as well. Last year also, the southwest monsoon withdrew from the city on 15th October, along with the rest of the country, particularly southern parts. But the rains had continued even thereafter for the city and suburbs. It could be a repeat of the same this year also.
The second half of the monsoon season has been quite fierce for Mumbai and suburbs. The month of August witnessed a deluge of four-digit monthly rainfall, nearly double the normal. The month of September has recorded 607.3 mm rainfall, far in excess of the average 341.4 mm. Rainfall activity will slow down now for the next 3–4 days.
A low-pressure area over North Madhya Maharashtra has shifted to the Gulf of Cambay and adjoining Coastal Saurashtra. This weather system will meander over that area for the next three days and shift over the Northeast Arabian Sea later. However, weather activity will remain confined to Gujarat and contiguous parts of Southwest Rajasthan. Konkan & Goa, including Mumbai, Raigad, Palghar, Alibag, and Thane will observe light to moderate rainfall during this period.
There is another low-pressure area likely to come up over the Bay of Bengal shortly. After that system moves inland and reaches parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh region, the southwesterly monsoon stream will once again strengthen along the Konkan Coast. Rainfall will increase yet again over Mumbai and the neighbourhood between 04th and 06th October. The wet spell will not be as sharp as the previous one, but moderate rainfall is quite likely. Scattered and light rainfall will continue even later over the region. The exit of the monsoon is expected to get delayed, and it may overstay beyond its normal date of 08th October.
