Mumbai rains surpass annual average as IMD predicts heavy showers

MUMBAI:As lakhs of devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesha through various immersion processions in the city between Thursday and Friday morning, they encountered heavy

MUMBAI:As lakhs of devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesha through various immersion processions in the city between Thursday and Friday morning, they encountered heavy rain, which is expected to continue over the weekend. Also, the city surpassed its annual average rainfall mark on Thursday.

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Between 8.30am to 8.30pm on Friday, the Santacruz weather station recorded 4.2mm rain while Colaba recorded 3mm.

Day temperatures in Mumbai were almost 3 degree Celsius below normal with Santacruz recording 27.8 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degree Celsius below normal and 28.3 degree Celsius, 2.3 degree Celsius below normal at Colaba. Night temperatures were closer to normal levels.

Under the IMD’s new classification, 15.6mm to 64.4mm of rain is considered ‘moderate’, 64.5mm to 115.5mm is ‘heavy’, 115.6mm to 204.4mm is ‘very heavy’ and more than 204.5mm is ‘extreme’.

“The western coast has witnessed an increase in rain due to moisture incursions over the region,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Meanwhile, city surpassed its annual average rainfall. The Santacruz weather station (representative of Mumbai) received 2,340.2mm rain till Friday morning. The average rainfall in the city is 2,258mm every year.

He added that heavy to very heavy rain had been predicted for Mumbai, rest of the Konkan coast and interior Maharashtra for the next 48 hours from Friday.

“The possibility of a few very heavy spells cannot be ruled out as the low pressure area is now shifting westwards towards Mumbai,” said Hosalikar

He added that this weather phenomenon generally takes place as the monsoon withdrawal begins. “The south-west monsoon has begun its withdrawal process over parts of Rajasthan.”

Meanwhile, night temperatures in south Mumbai was closer to normal levels while the suburbs recorded minimum temperatures a degree Celsius below normal.