Monsoon to set in today; expect heavy rain: IMD

Rain intensity expected to be highest today; monsoon arrives in state

MUMBAI: Southwest monsoon entered Maharashtra on Friday morning and will reach Mumbai today, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

“We declared monsoon onset over the state at 11.30am Friday, as the monsoon onset line covers parts of south Konkan, south madhya (central) Maharashtra and isolated areas of Marathwada and southern Vidarbha,” said Ajay Kumar, scientist, IMD Mumbai. “Monsoon line is now over central Arabian sea, and passing over Ratnagiri, Solapur, Nanded, Adilabad, Kalingpatanam and so on.”

The monsoon is expected to make its landing in Mumbai on Saturday. IMD has issued ‘very heavy’ to ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall warnings for the city for this weekend.

“We expect rainfall activity over Mumbai to increase substantially over the next 24 hours, from Friday, allowing the setting in of the southwest monsoon,” Kumar said.

Akshay Deoras, meteorologist and independent meteorological advisor to the state, said that excluding Konkan, Mumbai and madhya Maharashtra, monsoon like conditions were not being witnessed in other parts of the state.

“We can’t expect the monsoon to set over entire Maharashtra that early. Subdued rainfall activity is expected in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Madhya Maharashtra from June 12 and hence, farmers must not hurry in sowing their crops. However, for Mumbai and surrounding areas, rainfall and winds are expected to increase from late Friday night. Rainfall intensity will be the highest on Saturday, and then intermittent showers will continue from Sunday morning.”