The India Meterological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced the withdrawal of the monsoon from the city.
Later than usual
The withdrawal has set in later than usual this year. Mumbaikars should expect light to moderate rainfall as monsoon showers are in its final days. However, the IMD has issued a warning to fishermen to not venture into sea for the next few days.
Mahesh Palawat, Chief Meteorologist, SkyMet, said, “We can expect light to moderate rainfall over many places across the Indian coastline and heavy to very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu and a few heavy spells over Kerala. Weather conditions would be rough to very rough over the South and Central-Arabian Sea, right from Kerala and south Karnataka for the next two to three days.”
Similar to Mumbai, parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat may also receive light to moderate rainfall.
Mr. Palawat said that compared to last year, the amount of rainfall received this season has been below normal across the State.
Extreme change
Mr. Palawat said, “The country’s long-period average rainfall was 95% last year and in the current year this has fallen by nearly 4% to 91%. This is alarmingly close to the drought average of 89%.”
He said such a significant change in the average rainfall received across the counrtry is cause for some concern.