After a brief delay, the southwest monsoon on Wednesday advanced further and reached Konkan, raising hopes that it will reach Mumbai in the next 24 hours.
After its onset over Kerala, the monsoon usually moves northwest, hitting Karnataka and Maharashtra. But the tropical cyclone Gonu which lashed Oman last week disrupted its progress beyond Karnataka.
The monsoon was almost six days late to its normal date of onset when it finally reached Vengurla in Konkan, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Presence of trough over the western coast and the cyclonic circulation over Karnataka made the monsoon advance to Goa and Konkan,” explained Rohini Lele, director (forecast), IMD.
Lele added that conditions were favourable for the southwest monsoon to move forward and it is likely to cover the rest of Maharashtra in the next two or three days.
National Climate Centre (IMD) Director D Sivananda Pai said: “Judging by the advancement of monsoon, it is likely that the city will get its first monsoon showers within the next 24-48 hours.” Mumbai’s normal date with the monsoon is on June 10, after it arrives in Konkan and Goa by June 7.
Pai added that the delay was natural and there had been similar delays in the past.
{{/usCountry}}Pai added that the delay was natural and there had been similar delays in the past.
{{/usCountry}}The monsoon has also picked up in the eastern coast with many parts of West Bengal and northeastern states experiencing rains.
“With the monsoon advancing, temperatures in North India, which has been reeling under a heat wave, will go down and people there may get pre-monsoon showers too,” Pai said.