Monsoon Delay – Mumbai Awaits Rain as Weather Conditions Remain Unfavourable
Monsoon Delay – Mumbai and several parts of Maharashtra continue to wait for the arrival of the southwest monsoon as weather conditions remain unsuitable for its further advancement, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Officials said rainfall activity along the Konkan coastline, including Mumbai, is expected to become more active only after June 24 and 25. Until then, most areas are likely to receive only isolated showers over the next few days.
Monsoon Advancement Stalls Across Maharashtra
The southwest monsoon had progressed into parts of South Konkan and adjoining regions of South Madhya Maharashtra on June 8. However, since then, its movement has remained largely stagnant, preventing widespread rainfall from reaching other districts of the state.
Meteorologists explained that the current atmospheric setup is not supporting a rapid advance of the seasonal rains. As a result, several regions that normally experience monsoon conditions by mid-June are still waiting for significant rainfall.
Mumbai Misses Its Normal Monsoon Arrival Date
Mumbai has already crossed its usual monsoon onset date of June 11 without receiving the expected seasonal transition. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai stated that moisture transport towards the Maharashtra coast and interior regions remains weak.
Experts noted that the monsoon flow lacks a strong push from the Arabian Sea, which is generally required for widespread rain-bearing systems to move inland. This weakness has contributed significantly to the delay being experienced across the region.
Atmospheric Factors Behind the Delay
The weather department identified multiple reasons for the slow monsoon progress. One of the major factors is the absence of low-pressure systems over both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which often help strengthen monsoon circulation.
In addition, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a large-scale atmospheric phenomenon known to influence tropical rainfall patterns, remains inactive. This has further reduced the likelihood of stronger monsoon activity in western India during the current period.
Hot and Humid Weather Persists in Mumbai
Despite cloudy conditions, Mumbai continues to experience uncomfortable heat and humidity. Temperature readings remain noticeably higher than the seasonal average.
Data from the IMD showed that the Colaba observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 35.8 degrees Celsius, which was 4.3 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, the Santacruz observatory registered a daytime high of 34.8 degrees Celsius, exceeding the average by 2.7 degrees.
Night temperatures have also remained elevated. Colaba reported a minimum temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius, while Santacruz recorded 29.3 degrees Celsius. Both readings were more than three degrees above the normal range, indicating persistent warm conditions even after sunset.
Visual observations from Marine Drive during the early hours of June 18 showed partly cloudy skies accompanied by sticky and humid weather across the city.
Rising Temperatures Across the State
Several parts of Maharashtra continue to face intense heat. Weather officials reported the presence of a cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 kilometres above sea level over East Vidarbha and adjoining South Chhattisgarh.
During the 24-hour period ending on Wednesday morning, Brahmapuri recorded the highest temperature in Maharashtra at 42.2 degrees Celsius. Gondia and Malegaon also experienced severe heat, with temperatures crossing 41.8 degrees Celsius.
Other districts including Jalgaon, Akola, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Nagpur and Wardha registered temperatures above the 40-degree mark. In contrast, Mahabaleshwar remained the coolest location in the state with a minimum temperature of 18.2 degrees Celsius.
Thunderstorm Alerts Issued for Several Districts
The IMD has issued yellow alerts for multiple districts where thunderstorms and localized weather disturbances are likely. The alert covers Raigad, Ratnagiri, Pune, Nanded, Yavatmal, Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.
Residents in these areas have been advised to stay updated with official weather forecasts and take necessary precautions during periods of thunderstorm activity.