IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Thane and Mumbai With Rain Forecast From Monday

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Thane, Mumbai, and Raigad districts, predicting moderate showers and thunderstorms starting Monday. The forecast, announced on Saturday, June 20, 2026, is expected to bring relief to the parched region which is currently reeling under a severe rainfall deficit.

The region has experienced a prolonged delay in the monsoon onset, which normally occurs on June 11. Due to the delayed monsoon and lack of pre-monsoon showers, the Santacruz observatory has recorded a rain deficit of 293 percent, while the Colaba coastal observatory has recorded a 304 percent deficit.

During June, the Santacruz observatory logged only 13 mm of rainfall, and the Colaba observatory recorded 7 mm. This is significantly lower than the typical June average of 526 mm. The lack of rain has caused temperatures to rise, with both observatories recording temperatures of nearly 35°C, which is more than 3°C above the normal.

The yellow alert for the Konkan region warns of potential thunderstorms, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph starting Monday.

Meteorologists stated that the southwest monsoon is currently stalled in the southern regions of Maharashtra. The temporary slowdown is attributed to the absence of favourable monsoon systems, such as offshore troughs, low-pressure areas, or cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. However, the IMD expects the monsoon to advance into the Konkan belt from June 24.

The delay has also impacted local water resources. The total water stock in the seven lakes that supply potable water plummeted to 9 percent, or 1.30 lakh million litres, on Saturday. On the same day last year, the lake levels were at 25 percent of their total capacity. Civic officials noted that with the current stock, additional state reserve supplies, and active water cuts, the available water is expected to last until mid-August.