Colaba's 50-year rain record broken

This monsoon, South Mumbai recorded its highest rainfall in 50 years. Santacruz, too, is on track to break its 50-year record.

This monsoon, South Mumbai recorded its highest rainfall in 50 years. Santacruz, too, is on track to break its 50-year record.

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On Tuesday, having received 3,004.60 mm since June 1, Colaba broke the rain record set in 1983 — 2,679 mm.

South Mumbai has received more than 2,500 mm only twice before in the last 50 years — in 1983 and 1990.

Santacruz has received 3,075.80 mm this year. In 1958, it received 3,281.7 mm — its 50-year record. In the last 50 years, rainfall exceeded 2,500 mm in Santacruz in 1964, 1958, 1965, 1983 and 2005.

While the rain has been incessant for the last three days, weathermen predicted a lower intensity on Wednesday. "The low pressure area in Madhya Pradesh moved to the western part of the state and Rajasthan. So, it will rain will be less," said R.V. Sharma, deputy director-general (western region), India Meteorological Department. "Strong winds and pressure gradients along the coast were responsible for the heavy rain."

On Tuesday, between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm, Colaba received 108.4 mm of rain while Santacruz received 76.8 mm.

The city crossed the seasonal average of 2,294 mm on August 17.

"A combination of normal monsoon features, such as low-pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal and strong wind pressure over the west coast, is responsible for the record rainfall," said Sharma. "The city is expected to receive 500 mm to 700 mm more than the normal rainfall till September 30."