Mumbai is experiencing one of its driest starts to June in at least a decade, with the southwest monsoon yet to arrive in the city. So far, the city has recorded only one rainy day this month — June 3 — when pre-monsoon showers brought 12.9 mm of rainfall, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The monsoon typically reaches Mumbai by June 10 or 11. However, this year, its progress has stalled after advancing into parts of southern Maharashtra earlier this month.
Between 2015 and 2024, Mumbai recorded between 13 and 27 rainy days during June. The highest was in 2021, with 27 rainy days, compared to 22 in 2020 and 21 in 2024. In stark contrast, June 2026 has seen just a single day of measurable rainfall so far.
Since June 1, the Santacruz observatory — whose readings are considered Mumbai's official rainfall figures — has recorded only 12.9 mm of rain. The Colaba observatory has received just 4.2 mm. This represents a significant shortfall from normal rainfall levels for this time of year.
June is traditionally Mumbai's second-wettest month and contributes around 23% of the city's annual rainfall. Data from the Santacruz weather station shows that the city receives an average of 675 mm of rainfall in June. July remains the wettest month, accounting for about 40% of annual rainfall, followed by August (17.7%) and September (19.1%).
The southwest monsoon entered parts of Maharashtra on June 6, just two days after making landfall in Kerala. It advanced into districts including Sindhudurg and parts of Ratnagiri and Kolhapur before losing momentum.
According to IMD scientists, there is little chance of further monsoon advancement over the next five days. As a result, Mumbai, Thane and Palghar are expected to continue experiencing hot and humid weather, with only isolated spells of rain until midweek. Conditions are likely to remain largely dry thereafter.
Temperatures are forecast to cross 35°C in Mumbai and may touch 37°C in parts of Thane.
While the Konkan region waits for the monsoon, several districts across Maharashtra are expected to receive thunderstorms and moderate rainfall.
The IMD has issued yellow alerts for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in districts such as Yavatmal, Nagpur, Gondia and Gadchiroli. Similar weather is expected in Pune, Satara, Sangli, Dharashiv, Nanded, Latur and Beed.
Meteorologists attribute this activity to moisture brought in by the earlier monsoon advance and active westerly winds. A weather trough over West Bengal and Jharkhand is also contributing to rainfall activity across eastern parts of the country.
Ironically, some districts including Akola, Amravati and Yavatmal may simultaneously experience heatwave conditions despite the thunderstorm forecast.
Among Maharashtra's regions, Ratnagiri has received the highest rainfall so far this June, recording 174.2 mm. It is followed by Jeur with 128 mm and Sangli with 105.6 mm.
The contrast with last year is striking. In 2025, the monsoon arrived in Mumbai on May 26 — its earliest onset in 75 years. Between May and October, the city recorded 2,335.2 mm of rainfall at Colaba and 3,146.8 mm at Santacruz.
This year, however, Mumbai's residents continue to wait for the much-needed monsoon showers as hot and humid conditions persist across the city.
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