Mumbai records 20 per cent less rainfall than last year

Mumbai: Following heavy rain towards the end of June and at the beginning of July, so much so that the city saw flooding on a few days, Mumbai has been receiving poor rain over the past couple of weeks owing to the low monsoon current in north Konkan, said weather experts.

Consequently, the percentage of rainfall the city has recorded is nearly 20 per cent less than the corresponding period last year.

The average rainfall in Mumbai, as per the BMC’s records, is 2,203 mm in Colaba and 2,514 mm in Santacruz.

However, till the morning of July 19, Colaba had received only 1,008 mm rainfall and Santacruz had received 1,440 mm, which is around 20 per cent less than what the city received till July 19 last year.

“Till July 19, Colaba had received 45 per cent of the total average rainfall that the city receives during the entire monsoon season. Similarly, Santacruz recorded 57 per cent of the average rainfall till July 19. Last year, Colaba and Santacruz recorded 57 and 75 per cent of the average rainfall, respectively,” an official said.

As per the monsoon forecast this year, the Indian Meteorological department (IMD) had predicted “near normal rainfall” and not normal rainfall. Near normal rainfall is below the normal range of rainfall the city receives.

An officer from IMD Mumbai said, “The monsoon winds in the last two weeks are going towards the Arabian Sea. Thus, north Konkan, which includes areas of Mumbai, Palghar etc., is receiving poor rainfall. There are still two-and-a-half months remaining of the monsoon and the wind current in north Konkan will soon get stronger and Mumbai will receive good rainfall. However, it was predicted in April itself that the rainfall will be ‘near normal’.”