Mumbai logs 736% surplus pre-monsoon rainfall in May; Orange Alert issued till May 24

Mumbai has witnessed an extraordinary surge in pre-monsoon rainfall this May. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai city district registered 736% more rainfall than the usual Long Period Average (LPA), while the Suburban district registered 677% surplus, well above the usual 8-10 mm expected for the month. Normally, May rainfall averages 8–10 mm, but Colaba has already received 108.1 mm and Santacruz 110 mm so far.

According to the IMD bulletin released at 2:03 PM today, unsettled weather is expected to persist across Mumbai and Konkan region. The following warnings have been issued:

• Orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar on May 23-24, with a high chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty winds.

• Red alert for Raigad on May 23 due to risk of extremely heavy rain and severe conditions.

Mumbai is forecast to experience thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds on May 22. Moderate rain is expected to follow. IMD has classified the entire forecast period as “Very Likely”, reflecting high confidence in continued adverse weather conditions.

The rainfall anomaly extends beyond Mumbai. Most districts in Maharashtra have reported unusually high rainfall. Sindhudurg leads with a 2,641% surplus, followed by Pune at 2,556%. Only Amravati and Bhandara have seen near-normal levels. This makes May 2025 one of the wettest months across the state in recent history.