Keep your umbrellas handy! Heavy rain to lash Mumbai and surrounding areas from June 9-11

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'heavy rain warning' for Mumbai and Thane as the southwest monsoon makes its onset. From June 9 to June 11, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to hit Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), signalling a strong start to the monsoon season.

The IMD's June 6 release confirmed that the southwest monsoon is set to advance over Mumbai, Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and southern Chhattisgarh by June 9 or 10.

Mumbai experienced pre-monsoon showers on Wednesday, bringing relief from the intense heat and high temperatures that had gripped many parts of the state.

The IMD noted that the northern limit of the monsoon currently passes through Ratnagiri and Solapur in Maharashtra, Medak in Telangana, Bhadrachalam and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, and Islampur in West Bengal. Typically, monsoon reaches Mumbai by June 10 or 11.

A vortex over the Maharashtra coast and an active shear zone are expected to bring significant rainfall, with Mumbai likely to receive over 100 mm of rain and some areas possibly getting more than 150 mm. This marks a nearly normal progression of the monsoon so far.

The rainfall is anticipated to persist throughout the week, with temperatures expected to range between 25°C and 36°C.