Mumbai Sees Driest May In 3 Years Pre Monsoon Showers Imd Deficit Rain Update

Moderate rainfall lashed Mumbai on Sunday morning, bringing respite to a city that had remained parched throughout May despite alerts about thunderstorms and occasional drizzles. While the city’s first pre-monsoon spell spurred the total rain recorded this month up to 8.8 mm, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show that this has been the city’s driest May in the past three years.

The city’s dry spell marks a stark departure from the previous year, when Mumbai experienced its wettest May in 107 years, with the Colaba observatory recording 509 mm of rainfall as the city experienced its earliest monsoon onset in 75 years, on May 26.

This year, by contrast, records procured from the IMD showed that the Colaba coastal station and Santacruz observatory received no rain between May 1 and May 30. On May 31, however, moderate rainfall swept across Mumbai, with 8.8 mm recorded at the Santacruz observatory, bringing the total monthly rainfall to 8.8 mm. On May 22, pockets of eastern suburbs like Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, and Mulund experienced drizzles. Even so, the observatories logged “nil” rain as the proportions were too little to be registered by standard units of measurement.

Furthermore, data showed that amid at least six heatwave alerts issued as early as March, the suburban station in Santacruz recorded 0 mm of rainfall between March and April.

According to records, this is Mumbai’s driest May in the past three years. In May 2025, the Santacruz observatory logged 395 mm of rainfall, 21.3 mm of rainfall in May 2024, and 3.4 mm of rainfall in May 2023.

The Santacruz station is recording a rain deficit of 9.7 per cent between March and May. Meanwhile, the Colaba coastal observatory has logged a rain deficit of 15.5 per cent until now.

While hot and humid temperatures are a prevailing feature for the city between March and May, the region is prone to experiencing thunderstorms and pre-monsoon showers during the season. Even as Mumbai has remained dry, heavy showers have swept several pockets of Maharashtra, with Pune, Kolhapur, and Satara receiving over 100 mm of rainfall until May 31.

Monsoon rainfall forecast revised downwards

Mumbai’s dry pre-monsoon period coincides with the IMD forecasting a below-average monsoon across India owing to the development of El Niño systems. On Friday, the IMD also revised its rainfall forecast for the upcoming season downwards, stating the country is expected to receive only 90 per cent of the total long-period average of monsoon rainfall. Last month, in its first long-range forecast, the IMD said the country was set to receive 92 per cent of the rain during the season.

As per the latest climate model forecasts, El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the southwest monsoon season, while neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are also likely to continue during the period. A climate phenomenon where sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer, El Niño weakens southwest monsoon winds and leads to a below-average monsoon in India. Earlier, weak monsoon years like 2015 and 2023 had an El Niño influence.

The absence of pre-monsoon showers throughout May also spurred a spike in temperatures throughout the summer, with the IMD issuing a heatwave alert for May 27, when temperatures surpassed 39 degrees Celsius. This year, Mumbai experienced an early onset of heatwaves with at least six events during March.

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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