Mumbai Braces for Heavy Rains as Monsoon Arrives Ahead of Schedule

 Mumbai, May 26, 2025 — The southwest monsoon has made an early entrance into Maharashtra, arriving on May 25—nearly 10 days ahead of its official schedule. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple weather alerts for Mumbai and neighboring regions, with forecasts indicating continued heavy rainfall through the week.

On Monday morning, Mumbai residents woke up to intense downpours, prompting the IMD to issue a Red Alert till 9:45 a.m. and a Yellow Alert for the rest of the day. Accompanying the heavy rain, meteorologists warned of moderate thunderstorms, gusty winds ranging from 41 to 61 km/h, and potential lightning activity.

Adjacent regions are also on high alert: an Orange Alert has been declared for Thane and Palghar, while Navi Mumbai is under a Red Alert until 9 a.m. In a morning update posted at 8:15 a.m. on X (formerly Twitter), IMD Mumbai cautioned:
"Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and intense spells of rain, with gusty winds reaching up to 60 km/h, are very likely to occur in isolated parts of Mumbai over the next 3–4 hours. Citizens are advised to take necessary precautions while stepping outdoors."

Sunday night’s downpour had already caused localized waterlogging across Mumbai, a situation that persisted into Monday morning. The IMD forecasts that the city will continue to experience heavy rainfall from May 26 to 28, along with overcast skies and intermittent showers. Daytime temperatures are expected to range between 23°C and 31°C during this period.

By May 29, rainfall intensity is projected to decrease slightly, though cloudy conditions will persist. As the month concludes, partly cloudy skies with occasional rain or thunderstorms are anticipated on May 30 and 31, with temperatures expected to rise to around 33°C.

According to IMD data, this year's early monsoon is poised to set a new record for Mumbai. Should the monsoon reach the city by May 28, it would become the earliest arrival ever documented—surpassing previous early onsets recorded on May 29 in 1956, 1962, and 1971. As of Sunday evening, the monsoon had advanced northward up to Dapoli and is progressing rapidly.

With the official monsoon onset date for Mumbai marked as June 11, the expected early arrival has triggered continued weather advisories. A Yellow Alert remains active for Mumbai and surrounding metropolitan areas, highlighting the likelihood of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms throughout the week.

Residents are urged to remain updated through official IMD channels and take appropriate safety measures during this period of heightened weather activity.