IMD Forecasts Moderate Rain for Mumbai as City AQI Stands at 26

Mumbai woke up to light drizzle, cloudy skies, and gusty winds on Monday morning as monsoon conditions persisted across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rainfall and thundershowers for the day, though no official rain alert has been issued for Mumbai for the rest of the week.

According to the IMD, Mumbai and its suburbs are expected to remain generally cloudy throughout Monday. While widespread heavy rainfall is not anticipated, isolated pockets may receive moderate to heavy showers accompanied by occasional gusty winds. Wind speeds are expected to stay between 40 kmph and 50 kmph, with gusts reaching 50 kmph to 60 kmph during intense spells of rain.

The maximum temperature in Mumbai is expected to hover around 32°C during the day, following a recorded minimum temperature of 29°C on Monday morning.

The IMD noted that August began on a wet note, with Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region witnessing moderate to heavy spells during the first few days of the month. Light to moderate rainfall is expected to continue across the city through the week.

In its monthly outlook for August, the IMD projected nationwide rainfall to remain normal to below normal, while average minimum temperatures are likely to be normal to above normal. Despite an overall forecast of below-normal monsoon rainfall this year attributed to El Nino conditions, heavy rainfall in Mumbai and neighbouring districts during early July helped the city recover from its seasonal rainfall deficit.

In addition to the rainfall, ongoing monsoon activity has maintained clean air quality across Mumbai. Official data showed the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded a reading of 26 on Monday morning, placing it in the 'Good' category. Under standard classification, AQI readings between 0 and 50 indicate clean air with minimal health risk to the public.