Expect ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall over weekend in Mumbai, stay indoors, says IMD

The weather bureau on Wednesday said that the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Maharashtra by Friday, and Mumbai between June 9 and June 11.

The earlier prediction by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was that the southwest monsoon was expected to reach the state between June 6 and June 8.

“Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into Maharashtra and rest of Karnataka in 48 hours from Wednesday. Conditions are also favourable for further advance over remaining parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, between June 9 and June 11,” read IMD’s weather advisory.

Madhavan Rajeevan, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, tweeted on Wednesday that very heavy rains were expected over the Konkan coast on June 10 and chances of flooding cannot be ruled out.

The weather bureau has issued an ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall alert for the city from June 9 to 11, and asked citizens to stay indoors as much as possible on these three days.

“Widespread rainfall activity with over 75% of weather stations reporting heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over south Konkan and Goa from June 7 onwards. Weather systems will gradually extend over north Konkan, including Mumbai, from Friday onwards, and continue till June 12,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD.

“Between Saturday and Monday, the maximum intensity of rainfall is expected over Mumbai and the surrounding areas, with heavy to very heavy rain; the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas cannot be ruled out.”

The advisory released by the IMD reads: “Active to vigorous monsoon conditions are likely to prevail, leading to persistent very heavy rainfall along the west coast, especially between June 10 and 11. In view of intense rainfall forecast, people are advised to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible during the period and also watch for weather updates from Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.”