Mumbai was hit by a spell of gusty winds, dust storms, and heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening, bringing temporary relief from soaring temperatures. However, the severe weather also disrupted daily life, including traffic and suburban train operations. India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed Mumbai under a Yellow Alert for Tuesday and Wednesday, forecasting light to moderate rain. The alert also covers Thane, Raigad, and Palghar districts.
Temperature is expected to drop slightly today, with highs of around 33°C and lows near 26°C.
Disrupted services & reduced visibility
Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and Moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburb, Thane, Palghar and Nashik during next 3-4 hours. pic.twitter.com/sSfurbn1Tc
— Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) May 6, 2025
The dust storm and strong winds caused visibility issues across the city, hampering traffic and pedestrian movement. A notable incident occurred in Dahisar, where a piece of cloth was blown onto Western Railway’s overhead equipment, temporarily affecting train services.
While coastal Mumbai saw light drizzle, moderate showers were reported in areas such as Borivali, Kandivali, Andheri, Lower Parel, Bhayandar, and Powai. Residents shared footage of strong winds blowing construction material and forcing bikers to take shelter.
Sudden downpour hampers transport
The thunderstorms that disrupted life in Mumbai also had implications for international air travel. Air India and IndiGo issued advisories warning of delays and diversions, highlighting the vulnerability Mumbai to sudden weather shift.
With international passengers connecting through the city from regions such as the United States, Europe, the Middle East and East Asia, these disruptions fuelled uncertainty among global travellers. Airlines were forced to absorb additional costs linked to accommodation, rescheduling, and fuel, prompting internal reviews of contingency protocols.
Repeated incidents of this nature could gradually shift traveller preference toward alternative hubs such as Dubai, Doha or Singapore.
