Mumbai: Yellow alert sounded as city reels under intense humidity, more rains likely to hit city
New Delhi: A yellow alert for Mumbai has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) because of intense humidity and amid predictions of more rains. The city is expected to witness thundershowers and rain on Thursday. A thunderstorm alert has also been issued for Mumbai and Thane within the next 48 hours. Rainfall is predicted in Thane and Palghar as well. Light showers are expected to lash Kandivali and Borivali on Thursday.
The IMD has also issued warning of thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph at isolated places in the districts of Kolhapur, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Latur, Dharashiv, Sangli, Satara and Nashik during next 3-4 hours. “Take precautions while moving out,” the weather department cautioned.
On May 15, the IMD had issued orange and yellow alerts indicating heat wave and rainfall coupled with thunderstorms for Mumbai and its neighbouring districts of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad and Palghar, along with several other parts of Maharashtra.
IMD’s Santacruz observatory on Wednesday had recorded 37.2 degrees Celsius, which was 3.6 degrees above normal. The day temperature was above 37 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The temperature was recorded at 37.6 degrees at IMD’s Coastal observatory at Colaba.
The prediction of more rainfall in the region is a welcome relief from the recent scorching heat. However, it will be accompanied by humidity.
Massive dust storm takes toll
On Monday, a massive dust storm swept across Mumbai, which crippled public transport and threw normal life out of gear. The Mumbai Metro and local train services were disrupted due to the fierce storm. A billboard collapsed in Ghatkopar claiming lives of 16 people and leaving over 75 injured.
Pune drenched in rain
Pune is all set to witness a extremely wet May. It has recorded rainfall exceeding 72mm recently. Shivajinagar has already recorded a rainfall of over 72.3mm till now. This is the second highest May rainfall since 2021, when the recorded rainfall in the same month was 88.8mm. In May last year, Pune received only 19.4mm rainfall.