Thundershowers mean monsoon is withdrawing: Met

It was another evening of dark clouds and thundershowers accompanied by heavy rain as south Mumbai received more rain on Monday evening.

It was another evening of dark clouds and thundershowers accompanied by heavy rain as south Mumbai received more rain on Monday evening.

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While there was no rain throughout the day, between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, it rained 16.2mm in Colaba and Santacruz recorded only 0.2mm rain.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), thundershower activity with rain is a normal phenomenon, which signifies that monsoon is beginning to withdraw.

“A combination of localised heating and an upper air cyclonic circulation off the Maharashtra coast is responsible for rains over the last few evenings,” said VK Rajeev, director, western region, IMD.

Weathermen have forecast one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in parts of the city and suburbs.

The withdrawal of the monsoon is declared only if there are five clear and hot days without rain over a larger area. Though the onset of the monsoon season is definite, there is no specific date for withdrawal.

With humidity levels as high as 96% in south Mumbai and 72% in suburbs, weather bureau said the accompanying moisture could continue bring about some rain spells.

It’s only when the level of humidity drops to about 20 to 30 percent, the moisture reduces and so does cloud formation.

“We will only then declare that monsoon is withdrawing,” said a weather bureau official.