Rainfall to continue for next 48 hours: IMD

Even as Mumbaikars experienced the season’s first heavy showers on Saturday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that cloudy conditions and rainfall would continue for the next 48 hours. IMD officials said that light to heavy showers would continue in the city and suburbs, providing much-needed relief from the scorching heat and high humidity.

BMC’s disaster management cell confirmed rainfall between 8 am and 11 am on Saturday in the central and eastern suburbs of the city. Dharavi (35 mm), Matunga (27 mm), Kurla (23 mm) and Marol (38 mm) recorded the heaviest rainfall as other suburbs recorded traceable rainfall.

IMD officials confirmed that there was chance of more rainfall during the day as the sky had cleared out by evening and rainfall across the city had come to a grind. Moderate south-westerlies were blowing all over the city that picked up by late afternoon. Officials confirmed that similar conditions would prevail for the next 48 hours.

Earlier this week, IMD had confirmed that the southwest monsoon would arrive in the city around June 12. Experts pointed out that the early showers, cloud precipitation and wind generation all went to indicate timely arrival of the monsoon.

Skymet weather laboratory confirmed that as predicted, more shower spells were expected over the city.

“These on and off rains are likely to continue over Mumbai for the next 24 hours as well,” said laboratory sources.

Weather experts said that the cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea off the Karnataka and Goa coast would continue resulting in on and off weather activity over the city.