Heavy Rain Batters Mumbai, Raigad; IMD Issues Red, Orange Alerts Across City
The IMD issued red alerts for eight key weather stations across Mumbai, including Borivali, Santacruz, Powai, Mulund, Chembur, Worli, Colaba, and Alibag. Orange alerts were issued for Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan.
Early Monday morning, around 3 am, the IMD posted an update on X (formerly Twitter), forecasting “light to moderate spell of rainfall to continue over Mumbai and suburban areas during next 3-4 hours.”
Raigad district is under red alert, while Thane and Palghar districts are under orange alert. Maximum surface wind speeds and thunderstorms are expected through Monday, according to the IMD’s Nowcast warnings.
The city’s weather for the day is expected to remain cloudy with heavy rainfall. Temperatures are likely to range between 24°C and 31°C.
Heavy waterlogging was reported from several areas across the city, severely affecting morning commuters. Traffic police advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and warned of delays on key routes.
Videos on social media showed submerged streets, vehicles stranded in knee-deep water, and local train services facing minor delays due to water accumulation on tracks.
The IMD stated that the current weather activity is due to a well-marked low-pressure area over south Madhya Maharashtra and nearby regions of Marathwada and North Interior Karnataka. The system is expected to move eastward over the next 24 hours before weakening.
Between May 25 and 27, the Konkan, Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra regions are expected to witness light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.
The southwest monsoon made its earliest arrival in Maharashtra in 35 years, the IMD confirmed on Sunday. This year’s onset breaks the 1999 record when the monsoon hit the state on May 20.
“The monsoon has reached Maharashtra much ahead of schedule and is expected to reach Mumbai in the next three days,” said IMD scientist Sushma Nair, quoted by PTI.
Typically, Mumbai sees monsoon rains around June 11, but the early onset has raised hopes for good rainfall across the state, particularly in agricultural regions.
Former Earth Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan noted that early onset is not unusual, citing similar patterns in 1971. “The present active monsoon conditions will likely continue until June 2, helping the system advance further into Maharashtra and eastern India,” he said.