Mumbai Rains: IMD Issues Red Alert Until May 27 As City Records Earliest Monsoon In 75 Years, Breaks 107-Year Rainfall Record

Mumbai: The monsoon hit Mumbai on Monday, May 26 breaking several records. Apart from marking the earliest monsoon onset in the last 75 years, the city broke the 107 years record of May rainfall.

"From May 1 to 26 the Colaba observatory recorded 294.4 mm. rainfall. It was in May 1918, the observatory had recorded 279.4 mm rainfall. It is the highest May rainfall in the last 107 years," said Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) scientist Sushma Nair.

The southwest monsoon hit Mumbai and it's metropolitan regions on Monday, 16 days prior to its official date of June 11.

Mumbai Director, Shubhangi Bhute said, "The monsoon has arrived in Mumbai on May 26 and has advanced upto Pune in Madhya Maharashtra and Osmanabad in Marathwada. The official date monsoon onset for Mumbai is June 11. This is the earliest monsoon onset for Mumbai in the last 75 years."

Following the onset of monsoon, the IMD has issued Red Alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad and Ratnagiri until 8.30 am of May 27. The authorities advised the citizens to stay indoors and not move out unless necessary.

"The IMD has revised it's Orange Alert for the Mumbai to Red Alert alert. The region is expected to heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, lightening and gusty winds," IMD officials said.

On Monday until 5.30 pm, the Colaba observatory recorded 144.3 mm rainfall, while Santacruz recorded 74.3 mm rainfall.

The rainfall also dropped the temperature and humidity in the region. Mumbai on Monday witnessed below average temperature. The Colaba observatory recorded the maximum and minimum temperature at 26.4°C and 23.2°C, respectively, both 5°C below normal. While, Santacruz recorded, 28.7°C and 25.7°C.

Apart from the Konkan region, the districts where Red Alert is issued includes Pune, Satara Kolhapur and other ghats regions of Maharashtra. While, Orange Alert is issued for several districts in Marathwada.

The monsoon had arrived in Maharashtra's south Konkan on Sunday, May 25, prior to its official date of June 5, and considering the rapid advancements, the IMD had forecasted onset of monsoon in Mumbai in next two-three days i.e May 28. However, it hit the island city, within 24 hours, taking the citizens as well as the weatherman by surprise.

Monsoon 2025 has broken several records. As per IMD's historical data, the earliest arrival of monsoon was on May 29, in the years of 1956, 1962 and 1971. If the this millenium is considered, from 2001 to 2024, the earliest arrival of monsoon was on May 31, 2006.