IMD issues orange alert for Thane and Mumbai after June rain deficit

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Thane, Mumbai, and Palghar districts starting July 1, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The alert comes after a delayed monsoon left the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) with a rainfall deficit of over 25 percent during the month of June.

According to the IMD, an orange alert is issued when there is a likelihood of 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm of rain within a 24-hour period. Meanwhile, neighbouring Raigad district has been placed under a red alert for July 2, indicating the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm in a day.

The upcoming wet spell follows a dry June. Between June 1 and June 30, the Santacruz observatory recorded 416.4 mm of rain, falling short of its monthly average of 526 mm. The Colaba observatory logged 441 mm of rainfall, compared to its average quota of 506 mm.

Weather officials attributed the deficit to the delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon. The monsoon advanced into the region on June 23 after a nearly two-week delay. The lack of heavy pre-monsoon showers further contributed to the dry conditions.

The dry spell has significantly impacted the water levels in the seven lakes that supply potable water to the region. Despite some continuous showers in the final week of June, the total water stock in these reservoirs plummeted to 6.75 percent of their total capacity. This marks a sharp decline from the same period last year, when the water stock stood at 40.22 percent, or 5.82 lakh million litres.

The dry start aligns with the IMD's earlier national forecast of a below-normal monsoon, predicting only 90 percent of the average rainfall across the country this year. However, the region is now bracing for heavy spells to start the month of July.