IMD issues orange alert: Mumbai likely to get heavy rain till Monday ›

The extended forecast indicates a positive anomaly for the state till the end of August, with rain activity expected to continue, especially along the Konkan coast. KS HOSALIKAR, deputy director general, western region, IMD

MUMBAI: The city may witness active monsoon conditions till the end of August, according to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) extended rainfall forecast, released on Thursday.

IMD also issued an orange alert (heavy to very heavy rain) for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar, for Sunday and Monday. A yellow alert (heavy rain across isolated areas) has been issued for Friday and Saturday.

The city can expect gusty winds reaching 45-55 kmph occasionally on Friday and Saturday, said IMD.

“The extended rainfall forecast indicates a positive anomaly for Maharashtra till the end of August, with rainfall activity expected to continue, especially along the Konkan coast, which is expected to be active with moderate to heavy showers,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD.

On Thursday, the Santacruz weather observatory, representative of the suburbs, recorded 5.6mm rain between 8.30am and 5.30pm Thursday while Colaba, representative of south Mumbai, recorded 2.2mm rain during the same period. More rain was recorded in the northwestern suburbs, eastern suburbs and parts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Over the nine-hour period, maximum rain was recorded at Dombivli (19.5mm), followed by Mumbra (17.6mm), Mira Road (15mm) and Thane (14.3mm). IMD classifies 15.6-64.4mm as moderate rain while 64.5-115.5mm rain is heavy.

Over the past 24 hours (8.30 am Wednesday to 8.30 am Thursday), Mumbai suburbs recorded 42mm of rain while 17.8mm was recorded in south Mumbai. Maximum rain was recorded in Mulund (78.6mm) and Borivli (77.4mm) while isolated areas in Palghar recorded 110-120mm.