The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rainfall in Mumbai on Monday, November 27, a day after unseasonal rain lashed the national capital. The weather agency has also issued an orange alert for light to moderate rainfall in many parts of Maharashtra, apart from Mumbai.

“Orange and red colour regions (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail storms during next 2-3 hours,” tweeted IMD on Monday morning.

Orange and red colour regions (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) are likley to experience light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, gusty winds and hailstorms during next 2-3 hours. Nowcasts are regularly being updated. pic.twitter.com/Eu0TnsJ6Jj

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 26, 2023

The weather agency placed Mumbai on a ‘green’ alert for possible rain or thundershowers on Monday afternoon or evening, while Thane, Palghar and Raigad were placed under a ‘yellow’ alert.

On Sunday evening, Mumbai experienced heavy rains in several parts with lightning and thunderstorms. Due to unseasonal showers, South Mumbai received 9.2mm of rainfall while suburbs recorded 5.2mm.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Rain lashes parts of Mumbai.IMD has predicted heavy rains, thunderstorms and hail storms in parts of Maharashtra today. pic.twitter.com/euy7IV9Cet

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2023

The unseasonal rain on Sunday also helped to bring down the air pollution levels in Mumbai.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) bulletin issued at 4 pm on Sunday, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai stood at a ‘satisfactory’ level of 98. The pollution data was gathered from 30 locations, with readings at 25 of these sites indicating contributions from PM2.5 and PM10 particles.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck Gujarat over the weekend as at least 20 people lost their lives in lightning strikes amid heavy rainfall. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that the fatalities occurred across the districts of Surat, Kheda, Surendranagar, Tapi, Bharuch, and Amreli. These districts recorded 50-117 mm of rainfall in just 16 hours on Sunday. The IMD anticipates a gradual decline in rainfall activity in Gujarat starting today.

According to the IMD, Western Disturbances are influencing the weather patterns and it may cause light to moderate rainfall in Konkan and Goa, Marathwada and south Madhya Pradesh on November 27. Isolated hailstorms are also likely in Uttarakhand, north Marathwada, southwest Madhya Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha on Monday.

In addition, the Western Himalayan Region and plains of Northwest India may witness light rainfall at isolated places during November 27-28. Thunderstorms and lightning are expected at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and east Rajasthan on November 27.

Due to a Cyclonic Circulation, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are predicted to experience light to moderate rainfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning from November 27 to 29, the weather forecaster predicted.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)

First Published:Nov 27, 2023 12:00 PM IST