According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the intensity of rains will decrease in Mumbai and its surrounding areas in the first week of August. Moderate rainfall is expected till August 4.
The weather will remain cloudy for the next few days. There is also a possibility of light to moderate showers in the city. The temperature will remain between 26°C and 32°C.
The IMD has predicted light rains on August 2, 3 and 4. However, the rains may increase slightly from August 6. Although there is a break in heavy rains, the humidity is likely to remain high.
The intensity of rains will also decrease in neighboring regions like Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Pune. There is a possibility of moderate showers at some places. But there is no warning of heavy rains.
According to data revealed by the weather department, this was Mumbai’s driest July in a decade. Prior to this, the driest spell in July was observed in 2015 when the Santacruz station had received 359 mm rain whereas the Colaba station logged 280 mm rain.
The city’s Santacruz observatory failed to clock in even its average monsoon quota for the month as it ended on Thursday, receiving only 798 mm rain between July 1 and July 31. This led to a rain deficit of nearly 7 per cent from its actual average rain quota.
Meanwhile, Colaba station also recorded deficit rainfall of 381 mm, marking a negative departure of 48 per cent from its monthly actual average for July.
Vidarbha likely to receive heavy rain
On the other hand, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for several districts of Vidarbha, including Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Bhandara, where thunderstorms, heavy rain and gusty winds are likely to occur in the next three to four days.
Areas like Akola, Amravati and Yavatmal are currently dry, but the forecast is for heat and humidity to increase, prompting a health advisory to residents.
The Konkan belt of the state, including Mumbai, is likely to remain cloudy and light to moderate rains are likely to occur towards the end of the week. Moreover, the pace of rain is also decreasing in western Maharashtra, including districts like Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Solapur, the Meteorological Department has predicted the possibility of light showers at times.
However, the IMD has warned that the rains may intensify again by the middle of next week, urging citizens and farmers to be alert and prepared for changing weather conditions.