IMD issues Red Alert for Thane and Mumbai as monsoon rainfall crosses 1000 mm
On July 4, 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) extended a Red Alert for Thane, Mumbai, and Palghar through Sunday, July 5, 2026, after relentless monsoon rainfall crossed the 1,000 mm mark within just 12 days of its onset. The severe weather has caused widespread road flooding, a tree fall, and a partial building collapse across the region.
According to the IMD, the region has already received nearly 80 percent of its average July rainfall within the first four days of the month. Between July 1 and July 4, the Santacruz observatory recorded 675.6 mm of rain, while the Colaba observatory recorded 500 mm.
During the nine hours ending at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, the IMD recorded 164.1 mm of rainfall at Santacruz and 70.2 mm at Colaba. Intense downpours lashed several areas throughout the day, with Vikhroli emerging as the wettest location after recording nearly 260 mm of rainfall between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Other heavily affected areas included Powai with 249 mm, Malad with 234 mm, Malabar Hill with 174 mm, and Parel's G South Ward with 172 mm.
The heavy rainfall has resulted in significant local impacts. A road was flooded at Mumbai Central, and a tree fell at LD Ruparel Marg in Malabar Hill. In Tardeo, the Noor Mahal building had to be vacated after a portion of the structure collapsed due to the heavy downpours.
The IMD's Red Alert for Sunday forecasts extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations. Following Sunday's alert, an Orange Alert has been issued for Monday, July 6, indicating that heavy to very heavy rain is expected to continue lashing the region.
Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall has begun replenishing the region's water reserves. The combined storage in the seven lakes supplying the area rose marginally to 9.41 percent (1.36 lakh million litres) from 8.93 percent a day earlier. However, the stock remains well below the levels of last year, when the lakes had reached over 50 percent capacity on the corresponding date in 2025.
