Mumbai is expected to receive ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall on Saturday following the onset of the southwest monsoon, the India Meteorological Department forecast.
Rains touched down on Maharashtra on Friday morning, and are on track to reach Mumbai on Saturday, the Meteorological Department said, while warning of heavy rainfall in the city over the weekend.
‘We have declared monsoon onset over the state at 11:30am on Friday. The onset line covers parts of south Konkan, south-central Maharashtra and isolated areas of Marathwada and southern Vidarbha,’ said Ajay Kumar, scientist, IMD, Mumbai. ‘The monsoon line is now over central Arabian sea, and is passing over Ratnagiri, Solapur, Nanded, Adilabad, Kalingpatanam and so on.’
As per the weather department’s classification, 15.6mm to 64.4mm of rain is considered ‘moderate’, 64.5mm to 115.5mm is ‘heavy’, 115.6mm to 204.4mm is ‘very heavy’ and more than 204.5mm is ‘extreme’.
Advisories have been issued across the city to ensure quick response to emergencies and avoid casualties.
