Mumbai Rains: City Logs Over 700% Surplus Pre-Monsoon Rainfall In May; IMD Warns Of More Showers

Mumbai: Mumbai has recorded an unprecedented 700 per cent+ surplus in pre-monsoon rainfall this May, marking one of the city’s wettest Mays in recent years. This comes after a series of wet spells earlier this month, including heavy showers between May 6 and 9.

According to an Indian Express report citing data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Mumbai city district registered 736 per cent more rainfall than the usual Long Period Average (LPA), while the suburban district clocked 677 per cent surplus, well above the typical 8-10 mm expected for the month.

Morning Weather Briefing (22.05.2025)
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— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 22, 2025

The Colaba observatory received 108.1 mm of rainfall so far, and the Santacruz station has recorded 110 mm. Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning alone, Santacruz logged 62 mm, while Colaba received 23 mm of rain.

The surplus rainfall is not limited to Mumbai. Almost all districts across Maharashtra, except Amravati and Bhandara, have seen excess rain this month. Sindhudurg leads with a 2,641 per cent surplus, followed by Pune with 2,556 per cent, making this May exceptionally wet for the state.

Mumbai sub urban reported light to moderate rainfall during last 3 hours ending at 0130 hrs IST of today, the 22nd May 2025 : Dahisar 25.5 mm, Ram Mandir 14mm, Mumbai Airport 46.5 mm, Bandra 22.5 mm, Juhu Airport 26mm, Mahalaxmi 12.5 mm, TATA Power Chembur 21.5 mm, Sion 18.5 mm pic.twitter.com/64QswxBrdK

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 21, 2025

The persistent rain brought a noticeable dip in Mumbai’s temperatures. On Wednesday, the Santacruz observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 22.5°C, over five degrees below normal, while the maximum remained at 32°C. This follows the city’s coldest May day in over 70 years on May 8, when the minimum touched 22.2°C.

More Rains Predicted For Upcoming Days

Looking ahead, more rain is likely. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai until Friday, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. Thane and Raigad districts are under an orange alert for Friday, with the possibility of "heavy to very heavy rainfall." Raigad’s alert begins Thursday and continues through Friday.

Reason Behind Heavy Showers In May Month

Meteorologists attribute this rare May weather to the development of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the central Arabian Sea. This system is expected to evolve into a low-pressure area, further intensifying rainfall activity over the west coast, including Mumbai.

With the southwest monsoon’s arrival approaching and Mumbai already drenched by early spells, the city’s weather continues to stay unpredictable, cooler, wetter and stormier than expected for this time of year.