Showers drench Mumbai, IMD forecasts more; monsoon knocking early?

Mumbai rains

Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall on Saturday, providing a much-needed respite from the city’s persistent humidity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast partly cloudy skies with intermittent rain continuing throughout the day. Light to moderate showers are expected in various parts of the city.

This rainfall is part of a broader pre-monsoon trend observed in recent days. The IMD has issued a five-day weather outlook indicating that several states are likely to experience prolonged rain and thunderstorms.

“Southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka are set to receive consistent rainfall, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds over the next five days,” said IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava in a statement to news agency ANI on Friday.

Central India is also expected to see similar weather conditions. The northeastern region, including states like Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, is likely to continue experiencing rainfall throughout the coming week, Srivastava added.

Meanwhile, the northwestern parts of the country may witness thunderstorm activity in the days ahead, although high temperatures and heatwave conditions are expected to persist. Even with the showers, the eastern region, particularly the northeastern states, will remain hot and humid.

In contrast, Delhi might receive temporary relief from the intense heat. “We anticipate thunderstorms in Delhi during the evening today and tomorrow, accompanied by light rainfall. As a result, temperatures could drop to around 37 to 39 degrees Celsius,” Srivastava stated.

These weather alerts come at a time when northern India is contending with extreme heat. In Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, soaring temperatures have led to a spike in hospital admissions, particularly among children.

“Summer illnesses such as typhoid, fever, diarrhea, and colds are on the rise, especially in children,” a ToI report said quoting Dr V Singh, a senior medical consultant. He cautioned against consuming food from outside sources, warning that contaminated ingredients could lead to serious health issues. “Around 200 patients are arriving daily, with 25 to 30 children being admitted,” he noted.