Mumbai Under Yellow Alert as Rain and Thunderstorms Approach
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts on Saturday, warning of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and wind speeds reaching up to 40 kmph over the next four hours. The weather warning covers Mumbai, Palghar, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Thane districts.
Citizens have been advised to exercise caution while venturing outdoors as the weather conditions may cause minor disruptions across the region. The yellow alert follows an earlier red alert that was in effect between 3 pm and 6 pm on Saturday.
The IMD upgrade from red to yellow alert indicates a reduction in weather severity, though residents are still urged to remain vigilant. Red alerts are issued for extreme weather conditions that pose serious risks to life and infrastructure, while yellow alerts signify potential minor disruptions to daily activities.
Mumbai experienced unprecedented weather patterns last month, breaking a 107-year-old rainfall record for May. The southwest monsoon arrived 16 days ahead of schedule on June 11, marking its earliest onset in 69 years according to IMD data.
The early monsoon brought severe consequences to India’s financial capital. Heavy rainfall caused widespread waterlogging across the city, leading to massive traffic snarls and disrupting rail services. Transportation came to a virtual standstill as commuters were forced to wade through knee-deep water in several areas.
Low-lying neighborhoods including Kurla, Sion, Dadar, and Parel bore the brunt of the flooding. The aviation sector also suffered significant impact, with approximately 250 flights affected by the unprecedented weather conditions.
The current weather system continues to pose challenges for Mumbai’s infrastructure and daily operations, highlighting the city’s ongoing vulnerability to extreme weather events during the monsoon season.
