Sparking hopes: Rains keep date with Maharashtra

The monsoon hit the Konkan shores on Monday, sparking hopes it will arrive on time in Mumbai, despite a delayed onset in Kerala. A tropical cyclone has also developed in the Arabain Sea.

The monsoon hit the Konkan shores on Monday, sparking hopes it will arrive on time in Mumbai, despite a delayed onset in Kerala. A tropical cyclone has also developed in the Arabain Sea.

“Monsoon usually reaches Maharashtra around June 7 or June 8. This time, it should be on time. However, we have to wait for 24 hours for a better assessment,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD). “At present, the cyclonic storm has no bearing over the progress of the monsoon. The system has not affected moisture content or the monsoon currents.”

According to IMD officials, a tropical cyclone called Ashobaa developed in the Arabian Sea on Monday. Starting as a deep depression over the east-central Arabian Sea, it moved north-northwestwards before intensifying into the cyclonic storm. IMD officials said the cyclone was located 650kms west-southwest of Mumbai.

With the cyclone system still in mid-sea, IMD officials said they can’t comment about its landfall yet. “If there has to be a landfall, it is expected only in 48 hours, which is when we can predict better, depending on whether the storm starts re-curving,” said Hosalikar.

A day after the city received its first heavy pre-monsoon showers, the skies were clear on Monday. The weather bureau did not record rain at both its weather stations at Colaba and Santacruz. According to 24-hour rainfall data between 8.30am Sunday and 8.30am Monday, the suburbs received 4.7mm rain while it was 3.6mm in south Mumbai. While the first half of the day was bright and sunny, skies turned cloudy in the evening.

Temperatures in the suburbs were below normal as compared to south Mumbai. The maximum temperatures continued to stay high at 36.6 degree Celsius in Santacruz even though it was 3.4 degrees below normal. At Colaba, maximum temperatures were normal at 33.8 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday, maximum temperature recorded at Santacruz was 36.8 degrees Celsius, also second highest in a decade. Minimum temperature at Santacruz was 1.2 degrees below normal at 25.6 degree Celsius, while it was normal at 26.8 degrees Celsius at Colaba. Humidity levels at Colaba were at a high at 85%, while at Santacruz it was 57%.