Total rainfall this year 20 per cent more than 2018

Mumbai: While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted near normal rainfall this monsoon, it turns out the average total rain in the city this year is 20 per cent more than last year.

As of Friday morning, the total rainfall recorded at the Santacruz weather station was 98 per cent, which on the same day last year, was only 78 per cent, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management data said.

At the Colaba weather station, the total rainfall recorded as of Friday morning was 81 per cent, which on the same day last year was 70 per cent. Heavy rainfall has been predicted for the next 24 hours.

A total rainfall of 2,458 mm at the Santacruz weather station and 1,794 mm at the Colaba weather station has been recorded till August 9. The corresponding figures for Santacruz and Colaba last year were 1,961 mm and 1,564 mm, respectively. The suburbs have recorded more rainfall this year. For the next 24 hours, too, the weather department has predicted heavy spells in the city.

The India Meteorolog-ical Department (IMD) had predicted early this year that monsoon would be near normal. However, private weather agencies had predicted that the monsoon would be below normal.

The monsoon arrived in the city very late this year and until mid-July, the total rainfall was 20 per cent less than 2018 as the winds were headed towards the Arabian Sea.

The city received extremely heavy rainfall in June and early July which later took a break. It was only by July end and early August that the city received intense
rainfall.